A man who tried to kill a police officer after chasing him through the streets of Paisley with a chainsaw has been jailed for 10 years.
Liridon Kastrati was convicted last month of the attempted murder of PC Gary Cowan following the incident in May 2024.
The 32-year-old Albanian national was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.
After being jailed, Kastrati shouted abuse at the judge, calling him a “f***ing terrorist”.
He shouted: “You are a f***ing terrorst, you are a f***ing terrorist.
“Your country is a f***ing terrorist.”
Judge William Gallacher told Kastrati the attack had taken place during what had been an ordinary day for police officers.
He said: “This had been an ordinary day for the police officers and what happened was utterly unordinary.
“PC Cowan thought that if he did not get away from you that you would chop off his limbs and kill him.
“It was obvious that you were in hot pursuit wielding a deadly weapon and showed little regard to anything or anyone else other than PC Cowan.
“In considering many incidents that I have over the years in Scotland, I have never encountered the use of a chainsaw as a weapon being wielded.
“Many might think that this was the stuff only of a horror film.
“It is obvious that your behaviour was seriously alarming and impacted on the police officers carrying out their professional duties and the many members of the public on the public road.
“The public would be rightfully shocked and appalled by what they saw and many reacted and sought to offer or assist the police who were in such danger.
“In sentencing, I have to reflect the obvious horror at this behaviour.
“The public require protection from behaviour of this sort and the sentencing the court imposes is to make it obvious to you and others the utter unacceptability of this behaviour and the consequences which flow from it.
“It is clear from whatever thought which entered your mind, you were seen running in the street intending on causing catastrophic harm.
“If PC Cowan was not able to run fast enough or if he stumbled and fell as he ran away from you, the scene could have been one of carnage.
“I am satisfied for all the reasons that I must impose a significant penalty.”
Kastrati had initially been accused of attempting to murder four police officers, but was convicted in relation to PC Cowan.
PC Cowan, 35, told the court he had been in a police car with a colleague when a Volkswagen driven by Kastrati crashed into the side of the vehicle, activating the airbag.
He said Kastrati got out of the car, stopped briefly, then ran away. PC Cowan approached him with the intention of arresting him.
However, Kastrati returned to the vehicle, pulled out a chainsaw and chased the officer while shouting obscenities.
PC Cowan said he was terrified as Kastrati came towards him.
He told jurors: “I could hear the chainsaw revving. I thought if I do not create distance he is going to kill me.”
The officer said he believed Kastrati would “saw my arms off, chop my head off”.
Jurors heard that Kastrati was swinging the chainsaw and shouting: “Get the cameras. I want the media, get the media here.”
Kastrati eventually stopped running and placed the chainsaw on the ground before PC Cowan used pepper spray on him.
PC Cowan suffered whiplash and a knee injury and was off work for four months. His colleague was also injured.
The court heard Kastrati was arrested and questioned without a lawyer or an Albanian interpreter present.
When charges were read to him, he repeatedly referred to the collision as a “car accident”.
Kastrati denied the charges at trial, but his lawyer said he accepted he had brandished the chainsaw during what was described as a “frightening and distressing incident”.
Prosecutor John Keenan KC said Kastrati had “deliberately drove at speed” at the police car before threatening officers with the chainsaw “with the intention of causing them serious harm”.
Defence advocate John Scullion KC said Kastrati had been driving his brother’s car and had the chainsaw with him for a gardening job.
He said: “His position is because of his immigration status he panicked following the collision and behaved in an erratic and reckless manner.
“When questioned by the police he referred to mental health saying that he suffered from stress which caused him to make poor decisions.
“He conflates the police to anyone with authority in relation to his immigration status.
“He accepts responsibility for behaving as he did.
“He understands that he caused significant fear, alarm and distress to those at the scene and has expressed remorse for his behaviour.”