A FORMER part-time soldier who began a three-day siege after barricading himself inside a disused nuclear bunker has been committed to psychiatric care.

Ronald McDonald, 39, admitted the incident, which took place at The Secret Bunker, now a tourist attraction, near Anstruther, in Fife.

At Cupar Sheriff Court, McDonald, who is a paranoid schizophrenic, admitted breaking into the complex and causing (pounds) 100,000 worth of damage.

He entered the bunker on June 8 after driving there in a stolen excavator.

Police stormed the building two days later.

McDonald, who briefly served in the Territorial Army, had armed himself with a deactivated rifle he found in the bunker, but police had to enter after negotiations broke down.

McDonald, of no fixed address, also admitted stealing the JCB from Cupar Trading Estate and threatening police officers with the imitation rifle.

Edward Russell, the procurator-fiscal, told the court that McDonald had been seen driving the JCB around Fife.

McDonald forced his way into the bunker in the early hours of the morning, but set off the security alarm.

Mr Russell said: ''It became clear to the police that entering the premises would be a major undertaking.

''Over the next three days he was seen at various stages in the premises wandering about and removing items from walls.''

When police eventually managed to contact McDonald, he asked for a cigarette.

However, armed police had to storm the bunker after he agreed to meet them at a rear fire exit.

''There was a brief struggle and the rifle was removed from him,'' Mr Russell said.

Jonathan Crowe, an advocate representing McDonald, told the court that he had been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for the past 20 years.

The court also heard that McDonald had two sons from previous relationships, one aged seven, whom he had never seen, and another he had once abducted over access problems, sparking another siege.