Man demanded helicopter ride to London while holding Highland hostage at knifepoint

A HOSTAGE was held at knifepoint during an hours long siege in Easter Ross which required armed police and specialist officers from the Central Belt being called to the scene.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that there was concern that Patrick Muldoon may also have had a firearm as the drama unfolded on the evening of November 15 last year at a property in Westford, Alness.

Muldoon, who threatened to kill his girlfriend, Lynda Love, and police as well as his hostage, Liam Stewart, also demanded a helicopter to fly him to London before the stand-off ended at 5.05am.

The 24-year-old had previously admitted charges of assault, abduction, threatening behaviour and a breach of a bail condition not to be in the company of Ms Love. Sentence was deferred for a background report and when he appeared before Sheriff Sara Matheson for sentence, he was jailed for two years. A five year long non-harassment order to protect Ms Love, who managed to escape Muldoon, was also imposed.

The term was backdated to November 18, 2024 when Muldoon was remanded in custody.

His lawyer, Ewan Crombie conceded: "It would have been a terrifying ordeal for Mr Stewart and the police. His behaviour has been challenging throughout his childhood and into adulthood."

The court was told that police officers were called to a disturbance involving Muldoon, who had just been released from prison, and Ms Love.

Also in the house was another man, Liam Stewart and although Lynda Love emerged from the door into the safety of police, Mr Stewart remained and Muldoon then locked the door, shouting: "Let's go. It's a f...ing siege."

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that then began a stand-off lasting several hours when Muldoon eventually gave himself up.

Fiscal depute Alison Young told Sheriff Gary Aitken, who was presiding at that hearing, that Muldoon was acting erratically as if under the influence of drink or drugs and threatened to stab anyone who entered the property.

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"He then grabbed Mr Stewart and again shouted: "I have a hostage. If police come in the door, I will stab him and the police." The hostage confirmed to officers that he was unable to escape.

Mrs Young went on: "The accused held a knife to Liam Stewart's throat and said: 'I have control, he is going nowhere.' He also shouted out the window at Lynda Love saying that he would murder her and that he had a firearm.

"As a result it was declared a firearms incident and the Armed Response Unit was dispatched to the scene along with specialist officers from Glasgow."

Mrs Young added that as the hours passed, Muldoon demanded a helicopter fly him to London as negotiators tried to resolve the situation. Muldoon also threw items including furniture out of the building and was being aggressive towards the specialist officers before the siege ended about 5am, Mrs Young concluded.