Knifeman held blade to his throat during Falkirk rail station siege

The incident caused nearly 100 trains to be cancelled, delayed, or diverted, as police surrounded Connor Waugh (22), who was, in effect, holding himself hostage during the siege.

Waugh stormed off in a fit of rage from his home in Stenhousemuir and his parents called police.

He then went on a night-time graffiti rampage in Falkirk town centre, spraying the frontages of three banks and three shops with slogans in black paint before a member of the public, who had seen a missing persons appeal, spotted him on a railway platform bench.

Appearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court yesterday, Waugh, Bruce Drive, Stenhousemuir, admitted vandalism, a breach of the peace, and possession of knives on August 22 last year.

The court heard Waugh ran off when he was initially approached by police and officers, an armed police vehicle and police dogs formed a cordon around him.

Procurator fiscal depute Michael Maguire said: “At this point he produced a folding knife from his pocket and held it against his throat. The assistance of specially-trained officers, firearms officers, and ultimately police negotiators were requested.

“A protracted siege situation ensued, lasting about five hours.”

The court heard the incident took up “considerable” police resources, with nearby doctors' surgeries and shops obstructed and the knock-on effect on train services as felt as far south as London.

Some 26 trains were completely cancelled, 11 were part-cancelled and there were 36 delays, and a further 20 diversions.

Mr Maguire said: “At one stage a full stop was placed on the line as the accused was attempting to make his way towards the tracks.”

The procurator fiscal depute said at times, while police tried to negotiate with him, Waugh “became fixated on the equipment firearms officers had”, asking about their weapons and posing “hypothetical questions about what would happen if he were to do something different”.

He repeatedly mentioned committing suicide and held the knife to his throat.

Eventually, after “a lengthy engagement” by police negotiators, he dropped the knife and surrendered.

Stephen Biggam, defence solicitor, referred to background reports and suggested the court could stop “just short” of jailing his client.

Sheriff Christopher Shead said he would have been “entitled” to jail Waugh, but instead ordered him to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work and placed him under social work supervision for 18 months.

He told Waugh: “You're obviously an intelligent man. You'll appreciate the court is bound to view these crimes seriously. Perhaps it wasn't clear to you at the time, when these offences were committed, just what trouble they might lead to.

“They obviously did lead to a lot of resources being deployed, and disruption to the travelling public. These are serious matters. This is a direct alternative to a custodial sentence."