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Moray offender Shaun McDowell jailed for Forres stand-off with armed police and for harassing ex-partner in Elgin





A Moray man has been jailed for his part in an armed police stand-off that saw a residential street cordoned off for several hours.

Shaun McDowell appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court via a video link from prison where he has been kept on remand since his latest arrest earlier this month.

Police at Torridon Park in Forres on the night of the stand-off in May.
Police at Torridon Park in Forres on the night of the stand-off in May.

The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to several offences in addition to the stand-off which took place in Forres back in May.

These offences included twice defying a court order which had banned him from contacting his former partner for a period five years.

The court heard that McDowell first turned up outside the woman’s home in Elgin on September 3 last year, then refused to go away.

The second occasion took place late at night on October 30 and involved him repeatedly kicking her front door.

When arrested the following day on Buckie High Street, he struggled violently, lashing out with his legs and attempting to bite one of the police officers.

The court papers gave various addresses where McDowell has lived over the past couple of years, including the Fife Arms Hotel in Keith, Forres High Street and Baron Street in Buckie.

On May 4 this year McDowell was staying in Torridon Park, Forres, when he rang 999 to say he was both suicidal and in possession of a knife.

The police arrived at about 8pm to find him intoxicated and ‘smirking’ at them from out of a window.

McDowell refused to allow the officers entry into the property.

He then became abusive and threatened to cause a ‘bloodbath’, at which point back-up was called.

Armed officers, about half a dozen police vehicles and an ambulance all attended the stand-off, which finally ended at 3am when the defendant agreed to come outside.

The court heard that McDowell’s actions that night were in defiance of another court ban which prevented him from contacting the emergency services unless it was a genuine emergency.

McDowell’s final offence took place after he went into the Elgin branch of Domino’s at about 8pm on June 7.

While waiting for his order he opened a can of beer, but walked outside after the takeaway’s staff stated alcohol wasn’t allowed on the premises.

However, when his pizza was ready McDowell returned and brought the can back in with him.

Fiscal depute Rowan Marchbank told the court that the emergency services received a call from McDowell at 8.10pm, falsely claiming he’d been the victim of a crime.

The prosecutor said: “He stated the staff were being abusive towards him and that he’d had a blade waved in his face.”

Police officers arrived at Domino’s within five minutes and arrested McDowell.

Defence solicitor Matthew O’Neill commented that his client’s mental health had “not always been a positive”.

McDowell was imprisoned for a total of 12 months by Sheriff David Harvie.

In addition he was also banned for life from ever contacting his former partner again.


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