A man who abducted a nine-week-old baby and threatened to slit the child’s throat was jailed for five years on Friday. Scott Bradbury sparked a police siege with armed officers deployed after he attacked a woman at a flat in Edinburgh and kept the child in the property.
A judge told Bradbury at the High Court in Edinburgh on January 9 that the nature of the offences he committed were such that a significant custodial sentence was “inevitable”. Lord Weir ordered that for a further three years Bradbury should be under close supervision in the community when he will be on licence and can be returned to prison if he breaches its conditions.
The judge pointed out that his behaviour during the incident on June 21 last year was prolonged, aggressive and highly disruptive. Bradbury, 47, earlier admitted detaining a woman against her will at a flat in St Leonard’s Street and assaulting her by kicking, butting and punching her, making violent threats to her and pursuing her into the street.
He also pleaded guilty to abducting the baby who he locked in the property, barricaded the door and made threats to harm her while in possession of a knife. Unemployed Bradbury also admitted threatening or abusive behaviour which included threats of violence towards police officers and throwing glass bottles and other items at them.
The court heard that the violence started when Bradbury began kicking the woman on the legs and butted her in the face, resulting in her nose bleeding. Bradbury continued to punch the victim in the face numerous times and threatened that if the police were called he would hand over the child but prevent the woman from leaving.
The woman became increasingly anxious for the child’s safety and her own. She managed to break free and ran from the flat followed by Bradbury. The woman was ushered away by a friend and members of the public called police after seeing the injured victim and the erratic behaviour of Bradbury.
When officers arrived Bradbury shouted to them that any who entered the property would be stabbed. He also shouted he had a baby inside the flat.
Police spoke to him through the letterbox, but he continued to make threats and said he had a Pitbull dog inside which he would set on them. Officers told him they had Tasers and asked him to come out with nothing in his hands, but he responded: “I’ll get my shooter.”
Bradbury also claimed that he had a crossbow and said the first officer who came through the door was getting a “crossbow bolt to the head”. At one point officers saw he was holding a very young child in one arm and had a large kitchen knife in his other hand. He told them the child was “going to cop it”.
Because of his behaviour the incident was declared a siege and firearms officers and negotiators were drafted in. Firefighters and paramedics were also at the scene. Bradbury threw a large TV, cans of soup, a coffee table, bottles and a stereo from a window, damaging emergency vehicles although no personnel were injured.
After negotiations he agreed to surrender the child who he placed outside on a landing. The child was safely removed but he continued to act aggressively and threatened police. He hurled a heavy object towards officers in the stairwell.
Join Edinburgh Live’s Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
A Taser was used on him and he went to the floor but shouted for the dog to attack them. He was brought outside to be arrested. No crossbow was found in the flat but there was a Pitbull dog, the court heard.
Bradbury was found to have sent messages in which he threatened to slit the throat of the child. Defence solicitor advocate Emma Templeton told the court that while Bradbury committed serious offences he has shown genuine remorse.
She said he was willing to participate in any programmes he is offered while in jail. Bradbury, a prisoner in Edinburgh, followed the sentencing proceedings via a video link to jail.
The judge made a non harassment order banning him from contacting or attempting to contact the woman.
