NAKED KNIFEMAN JAILED AFTER AXE ATTACK AND POLICE DOG STABBING IN ST ANDREWS
Joshua Sutherland, a 20-year-old man from Inverness, committed a violent attack in St Andrews in October 2021.He arrived at his former partner's residence while naked and armed with a weapon, claiming he had been planning to 'chop her up.' During the incident, he struck her with a blunt side of an axe on the head, causing her to bleed, though she did not suffer a skull fracture or other severe injury.
Sutherland then fled the scene, later seen in just his underwear at a golf course, where he refused police demands and approached officers armed with a knife.
He went further to stab a police dog and assaulted its handler before being captured and cornered by officers.
During police interviews, Sutherland expressed regret for his actions, saying: "I hope the dog is ok.
I really did not want to do any of what I have done," and admitted wanting to have 'chopped her up,' claiming: "She should be f*****g dead.
I should have chopped her up." The victim was injured but did not suffer life-threatening injuries.
Sutherland was originally charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty to assault, threatening behaviour, and the attack on the police dog.
He was sentenced at the Glasgow High Court to four years and four months in prison, a reduction from five and a half years due to his guilty pleas.
The court also imposed an indefinite non-harassment order banning him from contacting his former partner.
The judge criticized his violence, stating, "This was a violent attack perpetrated by you against your ex-partner in her home where she was entitled to feel secure."
