A knife-wielding man who went on a terrifying rampage at a remote Highland hostel and held six people hostage will be sentenced next month.
Jack Quigley was aged 20 when he was given a work placement by the charity, the Venture Trust, at the Hartfield House Hostel in Applecross in Wester Ross.
Funding for his job at the hostel was supposed to continue until October. But it was unexpectedly ended in August, sparking the abductions and violence, Inverness Sheriff Court was told today.
Quigley, now aged 21 and from Edinburgh, appeared from custody before Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood and admitted six charges.
The most serious charge involved hostel managers Henry Robertson and Mary McCuish, whom Quigley pleaded guilty to abducting on August 23, this year, assaulting them and detaining them against their will in their office.
He also admitted assaulting four hostel guests by brandishing two knives at them and illegally possessing the blades.
The court heard Quigley was on four bail orders at the time.
Fiscal depute Michelle Molley told the court: “Upon termination of the contract, he left the hostel, got drunk and returned to rampage through the hotel and its grounds for two hours.
“Numerous phone calls were made to the police by the managers and residents who locked themselves inside rooms stating there was a hostage situation at the hotel.
“Both Mr Robertson and his wife were traumatised by the behaviour of Quigley.”
The court heard that staff had taken Quigley out for a farewell drink and he got “extremely drunk.”
He pushed Mr Robertson and Ms McCuish into their office where they were trapped. Quigley threatened to stab them, threw office equipment and desk contents about the room and repeatedly struck Mr Robertson on the head and body with a roll of duct tape to his injury.
Quigley then grabbed Ms McCuish, who had tried to remove a whisky bottle from his grasp, and wrestled her to the ground before leaving to terrorise the hotel guests.
Police rushed to the location and quickly disarmed and arrested Quigley.
Sentence was deferred until December 20 for a background report and risk assessment.
But Sheriff Fleetwood told Quigley: “I can see no other alternative to a significant period of custody.”
Quigley’s lawyer, Mark Harrower said: “He had done very well in the placement and was devastated it had come to a premature end.
“He became extremely upset and accepts it must have been terrifying. He has written a letter of apology to the hostel managers.”
Venture Trust Chief Executive Officer Amelia Morgan said “I express my deep regret at this ‘violent and disturbing incident’ which put staff and members of the public at extreme risk.
“It was a serious setback to the employment programme being undertaken and we must learn from it and improve.”
Ms Morgan said that the Trust had made changes to their systems as well as upgrading security at the hostel.
She added: “We will not offer work placements of this type here in the future. But the Trust will remain in contact with Quigley and offer support. ”
Venture Trust offers a chance for change to young people from 16 to 30 years old to gain confidence and leave offending behaviour behind, enabling them to gain the skills to move into education, training or employment.
Ms Morgan added: “I want to get them to where they can be a valued employee. I want them to know what it’s like getting your first pay packet.”
Hartfield House provides employment and accommodation in Applecross and income from it goes back into the charity’s work.