Weapon-wielding thug sparked police siege in Greenock

Mark Gibson 'frantically stormed around' the Branchton address and refused to come out despite firearms officers being deployed to the street.

Gibson, 30, smashed up the Huntly Drive home and injured himself while claiming that he had knives and a sword and would petrol bomb the property during the alarming incident two years ago.

He admitted to one of four indictment charges through solicitor Amy Spencer at the sheriff court, while co-accused Kyle McFarlane, 24, was cleared after prosecutors accepted his not guilty pleas as part of the negotiated deal.

Mark Gibson (Image: Facebook)

The pair were charged with behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly uttering threats to a man and assaulting him during the incident nearly two years ago.

They were said to have seized him by his clothing, dragged him onto a road, pushed him and caused him to fall against a parked car before brandishing a blade and a wooden pole and knifing him on the body to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Prosecutors accepted not guilty pleas to the threats and serious assault allegations. 

A Crown narrative read out in court said that four police officers attended Gibson's address at around 1.35pm on December 14, 2021, with further units attending to try to trace him.

Officers clad in riot gear attended the incident in Branchton in December 2021 (Image: NQ)

A procurator fiscal depute said: "The accused presented himself at the windows and doors of the property when police arrived and refused them entry.

"Uniformed supervisors arrived and another police witness instructed that a containment was placed on the locus. Negotiators were contacted and further divisional officers were requested to attend to assist.

"The accused frantically stormed around the locus in possession of a knife, causing injury to himself, smashing items within, drinking alcohol, and consuming white tablets.

"He continually threatened police outside of the house and ignored challenges to present himself at the door."

Gibson stated that he had petrol bombs within the house and that he also had knives and a sword.

Multiple officers and police vehicles were called to the incident (Image: NQ)

The fiscal depute said: "The siege situation continued for some time, with the accused making various threats to officers and of self-harm.

"He indicated he would cut his throat and his wrists and at various times was seen in possession of a number of weapons.

"The accused made threats to petrol bomb the house, as such the threat level increased and as per operational command decision, firearms officers were deployed and authorised."

Co-accused McFarlane eventually gave himself up to police at 2.30pm.

The fiscal depute said: "[Gibson] at this stage, whilst still erratic in his behaviour, began to converse with the forward negotiator. This, however, quickly broke down and the accused stopped engaging with police altogether.

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"At 4.20pm, firearms officers entered the locus, and the accused was apprehended and removed from the property. He was informed he was under arrest."

Gibson sustained self-harm cuts to his face and arms and he was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital due to the quantity of drugs he had consumed, the court was told.

He was treated for self-inflicted wounds with two staples inserted to a head injury and two butterfly stitches to his face.

Gibson, who has several convictions going back more than a decade for assaults and threatening behaviour and has previously spent time in prison, is due to return to court for sentencing next month.