A businessman who claimed he was a victim of police brutality after he clashed with officers at his home in Perth has dodged a jail sentence.
Peter Hodge tried to convince a jury that he was assaulted by six police officers while he was unarmed in his kitchen.
He claimed the officers later colluded to say he was carrying a weapon.
However, jurors rejected the 35-year-old’s claims when he went on trial at Perth Sheriff Court.
Hodge, who had to be pepper-sprayed twice, was found guilty of threatening police while brandishing a knife.
He was also convicted of resisting, obstructing and hindering officers as they tried to apply handcuffs.
And jurors further found him guilty of assaulting one officer by spitting in his face.
His partner Amy Mill, 42, admitted assaulting a police officer during the same incident by placing her arms around his neck and dragging him to the ground.
She also pled guilty to resisting arrest.
Both returned to the dock on Tuesday and were ordered to carry out unpaid work.
PAVA spray deployed
The court heard officers had responded to reports of an “ongoing disturbance” at Hodge’s flat at The Rookery on February 20, last year.
Hodge had flown into a rage after his father was taken into hospital earlier that day.
Because of Covid regulations, he was not allowed to go with him in the ambulance.
Officers saw Hodge standing topless in his kitchen.
He reached into a drawer and pulled out a 12 inch knife, and shouted: “Come on then.”
Police had to hit him twice with PAVA spray to bring him under control.
Sheriff William Wood told Hodge: “I do understand your position in relation to this night and how events unfolded.
“The jury believed the police officers’ evidence and while I understand you don’t agree with that, that’s neither here nor there at this stage.
“The charges are serious, there’s not getting away from that.”
He said: “This was a highly unsavoury incident in which you brawled with police officers and resisted their detention on you in a significant and marked way.
“It’s the sort of conduct that ordinarily might attract a custodial sentence.”
The sheriff added: “Having said that, it does seem the catalyst for all of this was the distress you were suffering after your father was taken off to hospital at a time of the pandemic when you weren’t allowed to go with him.
“There was generally a lack of information and that maybe led to this poor reaction from yourself when police officers attended at your door.”
Sheriff Wood noted Hodge had kept out of trouble for nearly 20 years.
“This appears to be a blip. For that reason, I am content to deal with this by a way other than a custodial sentence.
“But it does have to be a high tariff because this was a serious matter.”
Turned his life around
Solicitor Paul Ralph, representing Hodge, said his client had “done very well to turn his life around.”
He said: “He has settled down and set up his own business.
“He keeps himself to himself and he stays out of trouble.”
Solicitor Linda Clark, representing Mill, of St John’s Street, added: “Notwithstanding the significant difficulties that have beset Ms Mill throughout her life, she has been able to get herself into a very stable position.”
Hodge was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work and will be fitted with an electronic tag as part of a six-month restriction of liberty order.
Mill must carry out 90 hours of unpaid work.
