Dad stabs himself and grabs baby; doesn't release baby until police called (Edinburgh, Scotland)

UNNAMED DAD admits that he picked up a knife and stabbed himself, then grabbed his infant son and refused to release him until persuaded to do so by police. Needless to say, the mother was terrified for the baby's safety. Booze and unemployment are blamed--not a manipulative and callous indifference to the well-being of mothers and children.

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Father-stabbed-himself-and-grabbed.5416983.jp

Father stabbed himself and grabbed baby after losing job


Published Date: 01 July 2009

A STRESSED-OUT father stabbed himself in front of his partner and baby son after losing his job, a court has heard.

The 24-year-old oil worker picked up a knife and held it to his own face before stabbing himself during an argument with his partner over money.The young father also picked up his months-old son and refused to let him go until persuaded to release him by police.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard he had been made redundant from his job on the oil rigs seven months before the incident.

Yesterday, the man, who cannot be named, pled guilty to a breach of the peace at an address in Edinburgh on 19 May.

He admitted stabbing himself in the abdomen, holding a knife to his face, taking hold of his infant son and refusing to release him and placing witnesses in a state of fear and alarm for their safety.
The court was told money problems had "taken their toll" on the father, and he had been drinking on the day of the offence. His solicitor John Good said his client had now been guaranteed work and the couple intended to continue their relationship.

Sheriff William Holligan remanded him in custody for sentencing in two weeks' time.