An Angus man who staged a dirty protest in a police van en route to Dundee after kicking a policeman in the face has dodged jail.
David Crammond will instead return to court next month after a sheriff ordered an electronic tag assessment on the 35-year-old.
Crammond admitted a string of charges relating to an incident in Arbroath’s Corries Close on December 8, including breach of the peace, resisting arrest and police assault.
Depute fiscal Laura McGillvery told Forfar Sheriff Court he had gone to the house for a family birthday party but was heavily intoxicated and a fall out led to a 999 call after he was thrown out of the house.
When officers arrived Crammond faced up to them in a “highly provocative” manner and was eventually arrested.
The fiscal said he reared up and began to struggle violently after being handcuffed, bracing himself against the rear of the van and banging his head off the cage in the vehicle.
He kicked one officer a number of times on the face and upper body, the court heard.
The fiscal added: “En route to police headquarters the accused defecated and vomited repeatedly in the cage.
He told police ‘I’ll kill you’ and on arrival at Dundee threatened an officer with the words ‘I’m going to slit your throat.’
Other personnel were called for support and Crammond, of Links Avenue, Montrose, was taken straight to the cells without going to the charge bar, the court was told.
Solicitor Billy Rennie said his client regretted his actions.
“He has asked me to express his remorse having heard the full extent of his conduct, particularly towards the police officers,” he said.
“I don’t think he fully realised the extent of his behaviour.
“He has not troubled the courts since 2009, had been evicted by his own family and was self-medicating with alcohol.”
Sheriff Alastair Brown told Crammond: “There is absolutely no reason why police officers should have to be putting up with being assaulted by you just because you have too much to drink.
“I usually respond to people who kick police officers in the face by sending them to custody.”
However, the sheriff went on: “You have shown you can stay out of trouble.
“With considerable hesitation I am going to defer sentence for a Restriction of Liberty Order assessment.”
Crammond will return to court on February 19.
