Scots knife thug admits 10-hour armed cop siege while looking after toddler

A man has pleaded guilty over a 10-hour armed siege with police while he was looking after a toddler.

Ryan Martin barricaded himself inside a house while officers tried to get him to leave the property and check the three-year-old was safe.

He refused to hand over the girl - who can't be named for legal reasons - to officers or prove to them that she was still alive. 

And he claimed they could not force entry to the property because she was right behind him and could be hurt.

Firearms cops and police negotiators were among 27 officers involved in the stand-off in Kilwinning, Ayrshire.

Martin was high on a cocktail of alcohol and prescription medication at the time as he was suffering from a broken arm.

He threatened to kill officers and threatened to stab them while armed with a kitchen knife.

He also said he would throw petrol bombs at them, and threatened to shoot them.

The young girl the 38-year-old was looking after was in the house with him during the entire episode.

And Martin made the tot her breakfast during the siege, while officers were camped outside, before giving himself up hours later.

The details emerged today, Thursday, December 4, 2025, when Martin appeared in the dock at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court over the incident.

He pleaded guilty to the three charges he faced - behaving in a threatening or abusive way, endangering police officers, and damaging property.

The incidents took place at a property in Cathkin Place, in Kilwinning's Whitehirst Park area, on Monday, November 10, 2025.

Procurator Fiscal Depute Emma Sangray told the court he had gone to the property in question to drink with the girl's mum but had been asked to leave.

He refused and she left the property in a taxi, going to a local police station to raise the alarm, but the station was shut.

Officers arrived at the Kilwinning home following a 999 call at 12.50am.

The prosecutor explained: "Police witnesses attended. They observed the front window to be smashed. 

"The accused was observed to be heavily irate and heavily under the influence, pacing between the living room and hallway.

"The accused refused to open the front door to police and began repeatedly shouting and swearing to officers while punching the front door.

"He shouted, 'f*** off, I'm not opening the door' and threatened to jump through the broken glass window to assault officers.

"The accused made threats to throw bombs out of the window towards police officers."

The court heard he brandished a kitchen knife during the stand-off and tapped it on the glass window of the door while threatening to stab the officers.

Miss Sangray added: "The accused opened the door, slightly ajar, still in possession of the knife and was 'red dotted' with a taser.

"He immediately slammed the door shut and made threats to stab the police.

"He said, 'f****** taser me, I'll shoot you - I have an air rifle and I'm going to shoot you all'.

"He was opening and shutting the door and saying, 'f****** come on then, I'll f****** kill you all'.

"The accused began to barricade the rear door with items from the kitchen area.

"He refused to desist and told them to 'f*** off'. 

"Officers were extremely concerned for the welfare of the three-year-old as she had not been seen or heard within.

"They repeatedly attempted to engage with him about her welfare. He said she was upstairs sleeping.

"He had no regard for the welfare of the child with his continual aggressive conduct and intoxication level.

"He refused to provide proof of life or hand over the child to officers.

"He said she was right behind him so they could not force entry to the property."

Martin and the girl eventually left the property at 11.10am and she was checked over by paramedics and found to be unharmed.

Sheriff Murdo Mactaggart remanded Martin, of Ardrossan, Ayrshire, in custody and adjourned sentencing.