Inverness family terrorized by knife-wielding intruder stabbing kitchen door in attempt to reach them

Inverness Sheriff Court is at Inverness Justice Centre.

A family were subjected to a terrifying ordeal by a knife-wielding intruder in their Inverness flat and were forced to flee in search of help.

The woman and her children were confronted by Ellis Williams, a 22-year-old local man, in her kitchen on Riverside Court on the night of August 29, 2024.

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Inverness Sheriff Court I heard that Williams, appointed prisoner of Inverness, seemed to be under the influence of something. When the kitchen door was slammed shut on him to allow the children to escape, he began screaming, cursing and stabbing her with his knife.

The distraught mother screamed for help from neighbors, the police were called and a neighbor came to help.

But Williams confronted him and the woman’s son and lunged at one of them, the knife scraping his jacket without causing injury, Sheriff Ian Cruickshank was told.

Williams was able to be disarmed and the apartment door was kept closed, trapping him inside until police arrived.

The court heard Williams chained the door, became verbally aggressive and threatened to hurt the officers and their families before throwing a toaster and damaging a window.

However, police managed to get Williams out of the apartment when some of his acquaintances arrived.

Williams admitted threatening behavior and possession of a knife and was remanded in custody for psychological and psychiatric evaluations. His lawyer Clare Russell said: “He is aware that custody is the only option.”

Sheriff Cruickshank also called for a risk assessment and set a sentencing date for February 18, saying: “There is a risk of significant harm here and the need to manage that when he is released.”