Ellis Williams, 22, jailed 30 months for a knife incident in Inverness, confronting a mother and children at home.
Sheriff Sara Matheson wants to protect everyone; Williams was in Inverness Sheriff Court. Williams needs rehab for substance abuse, and his lawyer, Shahid Latif, explained this problem. Latif mentioned Williams has developmental issues, too.
The incident happened August 29, 2024, when Williams confronted a woman and kids in their Riverside Court kitchen. They were home that evening, and Williams seemed under the influence. People described him as an Inverness prisoner.
The woman slammed the kitchen door shut, allowing her children to run away; Williams yelled and swore loudly. He also stabbed the door with his knife, and the mother became very upset and cried, needing help from her neighbors.
Police were called to the scene quickly, and a helpful neighbor came over to assist. Williams confronted the neighbor and the woman’s son, and he lunged at one of them. The knife scraped the son’s jacket, but luckily, nobody sustained an injury.
People managed to disarm Williams and held the flat door shut tight, trapping him inside the apartment. He chained the door shut completely, and Williams became verbally aggressive quickly. He threatened to harm officers and their families and even threw a broken toaster.
The toaster damaged a nearby window; police got him out with help. Several of his acquaintances arrived then, and Williams confessed to his actions later. He admitted threatening behavior to others and also confessed to possessing a knife. His sentence started on August 30, when authorities arrested him.
Sheriff Matheson spoke directly to Williams, calling it a terrifying event for all that happened in a home environment. He was a complete stranger to them.