Man shot by police during siege admits attempted murder

Thomson was shot by police during the standoff in Kilbirnie, North Ayrshire

A man who was shot by police after firing a crossbow at officers during a siege in North Ayrshire has admitted a charge of attempted murder.

Jamie Thomson, 25, was involved in a nearly seven-hour stand-off at his flat in Kilbirnie on 12 March this year.

He threw items at officers, threatened to kill them, let off fireworks and fired a crossbow before being shot in the arm by a police marksman.

Sentence on Thomson was deferred and he was remanded in custody.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that police were called after residents reported Thomson causing trouble outside his flat.

Threat to kill

When officers arrived, a topless Thomson was seen stomping around his home with a number of large knives on the window ledge.

He hurled one of the blades, forcing officers to dive for cover.

Thomson then yelled from his first-floor window: "I'll chop your heads off. Bring it on. I will kill you."

After smashing windows, he then launched fireworks.

The court heard "a full firearms operation" - including three armed response vehicles - as well as police negotiators, arrived in a bid to control him.

Thomson called his ex-partner at one stage to tell her that he was "getting ready" to be arrested or "taken from his home dead".

He went on to throw other items at officers - including glass, cans, bottles, crockery, ice cream tubs and a games console.

Police cordon

The court heard that he had barricaded himself in the flat before grabbing a knife in each hand.

As the surrounding area was sealed off, Thomson refused to back down.

He then aimed a crossbow from his window and fired bolts from the weapon at police.

As police took cover, a decision was taken to shoot Thomson in the arm in a bid to end the siege.

This happened at about 12.15 - nearly seven hours after officers arrived.

Police then stormed his flat and handcuffed Thomson before he was taken to hospital.

It was reported at the time that Thomson was the first person to be shot by an officer since the formation of the single police force in Scotland.