A Perth resident, Steven Welsh, found himself at the centre of a dramatic police operation in June after making disturbing threats against a woman and a child. The incident, which unfolded on a quiet residential street, culminated in a tense stand-off involving officers equipped with Taser weapons, leading to Welsh’s arrest and subsequent remand.
The events were set in motion during Welsh’s appointment at the Taymount Surgery. Seeking help for a suspected chest infection and insomnia, the 51-year-old unexpectedly disclosed to his general practitioner that he was feeling profoundly low and harboured thoughts of harming a woman and a child, both known to him. When pressed by the doctor regarding these alarming statements, Welsh simply reiterated his position, displaying a concerning lack of retraction.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the GP promptly informed Welsh that she would be obligated to report his comments to the authorities. His reaction was one of distress, fearing imprisonment, and he dismissively told her to proceed as she wished. Following his abrupt departure, the doctor immediately contacted the police and cancelled his prescription due to the potential risk. Welsh then headed to a local pharmacy where, upon being denied his medication, he began to rant about “incompetent foreign doctors,” further exacerbating concerns about his state of mind.
Upon receiving the urgent report from the surgery, police were dispatched to Welsh’s home on Tweedsmuir Road. Their primary objective was to confirm his welfare and prevent any potential harm. During their initial visit around 4 pm, officers discovered the front door of his property unlocked and, unsettlingly, observed a log-splitting axe openly displayed in the hallway. Deciding not to engage immediately, they withdrew from the scene.
However, approximately 40 minutes later, the officers returned with the intention of securing the potentially dangerous weapon. This time, the front door was locked. When Welsh eventually answered, he greeted them with expletives, warning them that the situation was “going to go f***ing wrong,” before slamming the door shut. This overt hostility marked the beginning of a prolonged and anxious confrontation.
Police negotiators attempted to communicate with Welsh through the door and an open window. The tension escalated significantly when, as an officer moved closer, Welsh vehemently shouted warnings not to open the door, simultaneously grasping the axe by his side. In response to this clear threat, the constable drew his Taser, aiming the red laser dot at Welsh. This action prompted Welsh to momentarily lower the axe, but his defiance quickly resurfaced as he declared he was unafraid of the Taser and challenged the officer to strike him. He then forcefully shut the door once more.
Reinforcements were called to Tweedsmuir Road as the stand-off intensified. Welsh consistently refused to leave his home and disregarded instructions to stay away from the kitchen where the axe was located. Witnessing him move towards the kitchen again, officers made the decision to enter the property. Inside, Welsh retreated into the living room, expressing his distrust of the police. However, he once again made his way to the kitchen and retrieved the axe.
Facing the re-emerging threat, the police officers in the hallway once again drew their Tasers, illuminating Welsh with the red laser dots. This decisive show of force finally compelled him to throw the axe to the floor, raise his hands, and comply with their commands. He was swiftly handcuffed, though he continued to protest, asserting that the officers had forced their way into his home without permission and that he would have cooperated if asked.
During the subsequent proceedings at Perth Sheriff Court, Welsh’s defence solicitor, Jane Caird, argued that his initial remarks at the doctor’s surgery were fundamentally a “cry for help,” indicative of a severely distressed mental state. She clarified that the woman and child mentioned in his threats were not even in the country at the time of the incident, alleviating immediate danger. Caird also explained that the axe was typically used by Welsh for chopping wood for his stove, not as an offensive weapon. Nevertheless, Welsh has remained in custody since his arrest in June.
Sheriff Robert More, presiding over the case, expressed his bewilderment regarding the police’s initial departure from the property after sighting the axe, finding it “curious to say the least.” He deferred sentencing to allow for the compilation of full background reports, but decisively denied Welsh’s request for release, stating he was “not prepared to release you at this stage.” This decision underscores the serious nature of the charges and the ongoing concerns for public safety, as the court seeks a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances leading to such a alarming incident in our Perth community.
The events were set in motion during Welsh’s appointment at the Taymount Surgery. Seeking help for a suspected chest infection and insomnia, the 51-year-old unexpectedly disclosed to his general practitioner that he was feeling profoundly low and harboured thoughts of harming a woman and a child, both known to him. When pressed by the doctor regarding these alarming statements, Welsh simply reiterated his position, displaying a concerning lack of retraction.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the GP promptly informed Welsh that she would be obligated to report his comments to the authorities. His reaction was one of distress, fearing imprisonment, and he dismissively told her to proceed as she wished. Following his abrupt departure, the doctor immediately contacted the police and cancelled his prescription due to the potential risk. Welsh then headed to a local pharmacy where, upon being denied his medication, he began to rant about “incompetent foreign doctors,” further exacerbating concerns about his state of mind.
Upon receiving the urgent report from the surgery, police were dispatched to Welsh’s home on Tweedsmuir Road. Their primary objective was to confirm his welfare and prevent any potential harm. During their initial visit around 4 pm, officers discovered the front door of his property unlocked and, unsettlingly, observed a log-splitting axe openly displayed in the hallway. Deciding not to engage immediately, they withdrew from the scene.
However, approximately 40 minutes later, the officers returned with the intention of securing the potentially dangerous weapon. This time, the front door was locked. When Welsh eventually answered, he greeted them with expletives, warning them that the situation was “going to go f***ing wrong,” before slamming the door shut. This overt hostility marked the beginning of a prolonged and anxious confrontation.
Police negotiators attempted to communicate with Welsh through the door and an open window. The tension escalated significantly when, as an officer moved closer, Welsh vehemently shouted warnings not to open the door, simultaneously grasping the axe by his side. In response to this clear threat, the constable drew his Taser, aiming the red laser dot at Welsh. This action prompted Welsh to momentarily lower the axe, but his defiance quickly resurfaced as he declared he was unafraid of the Taser and challenged the officer to strike him. He then forcefully shut the door once more.
Reinforcements were called to Tweedsmuir Road as the stand-off intensified. Welsh consistently refused to leave his home and disregarded instructions to stay away from the kitchen where the axe was located. Witnessing him move towards the kitchen again, officers made the decision to enter the property. Inside, Welsh retreated into the living room, expressing his distrust of the police. However, he once again made his way to the kitchen and retrieved the axe.
Facing the re-emerging threat, the police officers in the hallway once again drew their Tasers, illuminating Welsh with the red laser dots. This decisive show of force finally compelled him to throw the axe to the floor, raise his hands, and comply with their commands. He was swiftly handcuffed, though he continued to protest, asserting that the officers had forced their way into his home without permission and that he would have cooperated if asked.
During the subsequent proceedings at Perth Sheriff Court, Welsh’s defence solicitor, Jane Caird, argued that his initial remarks at the doctor’s surgery were fundamentally a “cry for help,” indicative of a severely distressed mental state. She clarified that the woman and child mentioned in his threats were not even in the country at the time of the incident, alleviating immediate danger. Caird also explained that the axe was typically used by Welsh for chopping wood for his stove, not as an offensive weapon. Nevertheless, Welsh has remained in custody since his arrest in June.
Sheriff Robert More, presiding over the case, expressed his bewilderment regarding the police’s initial departure from the property after sighting the axe, finding it “curious to say the least.” He deferred sentencing to allow for the compilation of full background reports, but decisively denied Welsh’s request for release, stating he was “not prepared to release you at this stage.” This decision underscores the serious nature of the charges and the ongoing concerns for public safety, as the court seeks a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances leading to such a alarming incident in our Perth community.