Man faces jail after four hour stand-off with police at Falkirk train station

Connor Waugh caused disruption to the rail network as far south as London as a result of what was described as "a siege situation" at Falkirk Grahamston station.

A court heard that he was seen at the station, armed with a folding knife and a flick knife, after he had been the subject of an all-night missing persons alert.

His parents had called police the previous day after he stormed off from their home in Stenhousemuir "in a fit of rage" carrying lighter fluid and a lighter.

Waugh (22), then went on a night-time graffiti rampage in Falkirk town centre, spraying the frontages of three banks, a fishmongers', Game Station and Virgin Media with slogans in black paint before a member of the public, who had seen a police media release, spotted him on a bench at the station in the morning.

When initially approached by police he ran off, and officers, an armed police vehicle and police dogs formed a cordon round him.

Prosecutor 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 and a protracted siege situation ensued lasting for about five hours."

Falkirk Sheriff Court was told the incident, on August 22 last year, took up "considerable" police resources, and obstructed members of the public, doctors' surgeries, and nearby shops.

Train services were also affected, with the knock-on effect felt as far as London.

Mr Maguire said: "Twenty-six trains were cancelled, 11 trains were part-cancelled, there were 36 delays and 20 diversions.

"At one stage a full stop was placed on the line as the accused was attempting to make his way towards the tracks."

The depute fiscal said that as police tried to negotiate with him, he was at times focused and engaging, but at other times "became fixated on the equipment that firearms officers had".

He asked various questions about their weapons and "hypothetical questions about what would happen if he were to do something different".

Mr Maguire said: "He repeatedly mentioned committing suicide and held the knife to his throat.

"About 1pm, after a lengthy engagement by police negotiators, he agreed to drop the knife and he surrendered."

Waugh, of Bruce Drive, Stenhousemuir, pleaded guilty to vandalism, breach of the peace, and possession of knives.

Solicitor-advocate Steven Biggam, defending, asked for the court to order a psychiatric report on his client.

Sheriff Christopher Shead deferred sentence until August 25 for a social background report and continued Waugh's bail.

He said: "I'll call for a conventional report in the first instance without prejudice to seeing whether some specialist report, which I'm conscious might take a little while, might be necessary."