An axe-wielding man who smashed his neighbour’s window and went on to abuse NHS workers has avoided a jail sentence.
Gavin Hampton targeted the frightened woman’s home in a violent outburst that required armed police to be deployed on Gilbert Street in Inverness.
After the 24-year-old shattered the glass pane, Hampton then grabbed the broken shards and cut his own hands.
He later made threats against the police and caused a scene in front of children as he shouted and swore at Raigmore Hospital’s A&E staff who tried to treat his wounds.
Hampton appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court to learn of his punishment.
He’d pled guilty to two charges of threatening or abusive behaviour and one of wilfully or recklessly destroying or damaging property.
The disorder began at around 6.45pm on March 3 of this year, when the victim heard shouting outside her home.
“She looked out and saw the accused, who is known to her, and opened the window to ask what was wrong with him,” Fiscal depute Pauline Gair told an earlier court hearing.
Hampton initially spoke to the woman without any issues but then he “lost his temper and stormed off”.
Mrs Gair went on: “A couple of minutes later, the accused returned – carrying an axe”.
He tapped it on the window, causing the panicked woman to contact the police.
But before officers could arrive, Hampton smashed the lady’s bedroom window and then he grabbed the broken glass and cut his hand.
Hampton caused ‘disturbance’ in hospital
Police emergency response units, a firearms team and operational support officers all rushed to the scene and Hampton was arrested.
He was taken to Raigmore Hospital but, during the journey, Hampton threatened an officer, saying: “I will remember your face. I will pull you when you are not in uniform in front of your wife and kids”.
At Raigmore, he became angry with medical staff – shouting at a doctor that “the only f****** person you should be treating is me”.
He asked one hospital worker: “What the f*** are you looking at?” and tried to move towards them, but police prevented him from lashing out.
“The accused’s behaviour caused a notable disturbance with the hospital with members of the public – including small children – observing his behaviour,” Mrs Gair revealed.
Behaviour driven by ‘unresolved trauma’
Hampton also appeared to be sentenced for a separate incident on November 2 2021.
On that occasion, he smashed the rear and passenger-side windows of an ex-partner’s vehicle, causing £1,300 worth of damage.
Speaking in mitigation for Hampton’s most recent crimes, solicitor Rory Gowans told the court that his client “accepts what he did and accepts that it was wrong”.
He said Hampton’s behaviour was driven by “unresolved trauma”, for which he tries to self-medicate “to a significant extent”.
“That is what is getting him in trouble,” Mr Gowan’s explained.
Sheriff Matheson admonished Hampton on the vehicle vandalism charge.
For the axe attack and his threatening and abusive behaviour towards police and medical staff, the sheriff placed Hampton on a community payback order.
It included two years of supervision and 120 hours of unpaid work in the community on top of the time the offender has already spent in prison since the incident.
The order was made as a direct alternative to a prison sentence.
For all the latest court cases in Inverness as well as crime and breaking incidents, join our new Facebook group.
