Attempted murderer who chased police officer with chainsaw is jailed

A man who chased a police officer with a chainsaw in an attempt to murder him has been jailed for 10 years.

Liridon Kastrati, 32, was found guilty in November of the attempted murder of PC Gary Cowan following a trial at the High Court in Paisley. The daylight attack occurred on 6 May 2024 in the Renfrewshire town after a Volkswagen car being driven by Kastrati, an Albanian national, crashed into a police vehicle.

PC Cowan told the court he initially approached Kastrati with the intention of arresting him, but then found himself running for his life after the attacker returned to the car, grabbed a chainsaw, started it up and began to sprint after him while shouting "f*** the police". The officer said: "He was chasing after me with the chainsaw, holding the chainsaw up, running after me." He added: "I thought if I don't create distance, he is going to kill me." The officer said he believed Kastrati would "saw my arms off, chop my head off," and that he was "terrified".

During sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday, judge William Gallacher said: "In considering many instances of violence over the years in courts throughout Scotland, I have never encountered the use of a chainsaw as a weapon being wielded. "Many might have thought that this was the stuff only of horror films." 'Your actions were so gross and so violent' Charges of breach of the peace, stealing a car and motoring offences were dropped by the prosecution during the trial.

The judge stated: "Your actions were so gross and so violent that the punishment must be significant." After receiving the 10-year jail term, Kastrati began banging on the dock and shouted at the judge. As he was being led away by guards, he shouted in Albanian before saying "you're a f****** terrorist" in English.

Judge Gallacher said it had been an "ordinary day" for a group of on-duty officers until Kastrati crashed into the police vehicle. The judge said the attacker chased PC Cowan in an "awful and terrifying way".

Describing the CCTV and mobile phone footage of the incident, judge Gallacher stated: "It was obvious that you were in hot pursuit, wielding a deadly weapon, with little apparent regard for anything or anyone else other than PC Cowan. "The video evidence showed several cars and other vehicles having to slow or stop when it was obvious to the drivers of the vehicles that a man wielding a chainsaw was chasing after a police officer.

"One member of the public described trying to persuade PC Cowan to enter his vehicle as he put it 'to save his life'." 'The scene could have been one of carnage' PC Cowan's colleagues arrived on the scene and helped to apprehend Kastrati. The judge noted when the attacker stopped running and put the chainsaw down, a member of the public threw it out of his reach.

Judge Gallacher said the officers were "confronted with an act of horrific violence". He added: "If PC Cowan had not been able to run fast enough, or if he had stumbled and fell, the scene could have been one of carnage." Earlier in defence, John Scullion KC claimed his client had the chainsaw in the car for a "gardening job".

Mr Scullion said Kastrati, who suffers from stress, reacted "spontaneously and impulsively" following the motor accident and acted in an "irrational manner" after panicking over his immigration status. The lawyer said Kastrati was remorseful and had the support of his family as he asked the judge to take account of his lack of a criminal record.

'Extreme bravery and professionalism' PC Cowan has since returned to work. Chief Superintendent Rhona Fraser said: "It was a very harrowing experience and my thoughts remain with the officer just now.

"He is doing well. He is receiving all the support that we can provide within the organisation and outwith as well." CS Fraser said the officers "acted with extreme bravery and professionalism.