A knife-wielding man has been locked up for threatening and chasing his ex-partner and charging at police – all while holding a young child.
Aurimas Samalkis flew into a violent rage when his his partner of four years, who had just broken up with him, began to quiz him about his alcohol consumption.
And when the terrified woman phoned her family for help, the 39-year-old held a knife to her throat and demanded she call them back and tell them not to phone the police.
But police did arrive Samalkis could not be calmed down, charging at officers and chasing his ex while he held the blade and a small child.
Eventually, with the help of an incapacitant spray, Samalkis was brought under control and arrested.
‘She confronted him about his alcohol consumption’
Fiscal depute David Ballock told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the incident happened during the afternoon of January 12, while the woman was helping Samalkis look for council accommodation online.
“The complainer believed the accused was under the influence and she confronted him about his alcohol consumption,” he explained.
“He became aggressive towards her. While she was in the hall sorting out washing, he pushed her on the back, onto a cupboard.”
The woman then phoned her father and stepmother, but this only seemed to anger Samalkis further.
Mr Ballock added: “He placed a knife against her neck, making contact with the skin on her neck, and demanded that she call them back and tell them not to contact the police.
“He threatened to stab her if she did not do as he requested.
“He kept the knife held against her neck for a couple of minutes whilst the woman took out her phone to make the call.
“She complied in the hope that she could still get out of the situation safely.”
Samalkis then put the knife down and picked up a young child.
Despite the second call, the woman’s parents did phone the police and, on hearing sirens nearby, Samalkis again became angry – pushing his ex, causing her to fall and hit her head.
Bleeding and fearing for her life, the woman fled to the front door and, on finding it locked, resorted to climbing out of a ground-floor window to escape.
She told the police officers Samalkis was still inside with the child.
‘Samalkis emerged from the address, clutching both child and knife’
Police officers entered the home, on Farquhar Road in Aberdeen, and when Samalkis saw them, he “became confrontational and began shouting and swearing incoherently”.
Holding the child in one arm, he produced a “small wooden-handled knife” in the other hand.
Officers then retreated outside and requested assistance.
But Samalkis emerged from the address, clutching both child and knife.
Mr Ballock told the court: “The officers warned the accused and drew their PAVA Spray. The accused charged towards the police.
“Due to the level of his aggression and the potential risk of harm to the child, both officers discharged their spray.
“The accused’s aggression then turned towards his ex-partner, who ran in fear from the accused. Whilst still holding the child, the accused chased after her.
“After a short distance, the two officers managed to get a hold of the accused.”
The officers were able to pull the child into safety but had to use the incapacitant spray again before they could pry the knife from his hand.
He was swiftly arrested and taken into custody.
‘Very, very sorry. I was f****** drunk’
On the wat to Kittybrewster police station, Samalkis made a number of homophobic comments towards officers, and told them to “suck my d***”.
He also made violent threats and damaged the interior of the van by kicking it.
His ex suffered a cut to the back of her head that was glued shut by a paramedic.
The child was also assessed because they had been exposed to the police’s incapacitant spray but fortunately had not suffered any adverse effects.
In response to being cautioned and charged, Samalkis said: “Very, very sorry. I was f****** drunk.
“There were seven policemen. If they had spoken nice and not sprayed pepper s*** in my face…I damaged my head, not van.”
His ex described being “terrified” during the incident and was “gagging as if she was going to vomit”.
Samalkis, a prisoner at HMP Grampian, pled guilty to charges of assault to injury, and two of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
It was a ‘cry for help’
Defence agent Sian Grant said: “It’s fair to say this incident would have been truly terrifying for the complainer and the child. He doesn’t shy away from that”.
She said her client had had “time to reflect” and was “ashamed”.
The lawyer said Samalkis had begun drinking at 10am that day and half a litre of vodka.
She added, he now realised he needed to access support for his mental health and alcohol misuse.
Mrs Grant said Samalkis had told a social worker he “wanted to be arrested because he wanted support” and that it was a “cry for help”.
Sheriff Philip Mann told Samalkis: “This was a truly dreadful episode, totally terrifying for the complainer and the child, and indeed for the officers.
“There’s absolutely no doubt the only way to deal with this is by imposition of a custodial sentence.”
He ordered Samalkis to be jailed for 29 months with a 12-month supervised release order.
The sheriff also imposed a three-year non-harassment order with various conditions.
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