A Perth man launched into an anti-Queen tirade in the back of a police van after being busted for blasting out Irish rebel songs in the early hours of the morning.
Officers were called to Ewan Grant’s flat in Drummond Crescent following complaints from neighbours about loud music.
The 32-year-old lost the plot as he was transported to Dundee police station.
Grant chanted pro-IRA verse “ooh ah, up the ‘RA” and told officers they were “a bunch of paedophiles employed by the Queen.”
Grant, who was released from prison just 13 days ago, could now be sent back after he was found guilty of two counts of threatening and abusive behaviour.
His solicitor insisted Grant was not sectarian or anti-Protestant because he used to go out with a woman named after former Northern Irish First Minister Ian Paisley.
Early morning police call
Police officer Logan Clark told a trial at Perth Sheriff Court he visited Grant’s home just before 3am on August 10 last year because of a report of “excessive noise coming from the property.
The court heard the music could be heard from the street outside.
Drunken Grant was issued with a warning and told if there were any further reports that night he could be arrested.
About 30 minutes after PC Clark and other officers left, a neighbour called police to say the music had restarted.
“We went back and spoke to the accused at his front door,” said PC Clark.
“He was arrested for failing to desist, contrary to the earlier warning.”
The officer said Grant began “chanting and singing” when he was placed in the police van’s cage.
Grant spoke of “Protestant b******s” and shouted: “You’ll never beat the IRA.”
He continued: “F*** the Queen, she’s a f***ing c***.”
The court heard he called one officer a homophobic slur.
Asked by fiscal depute Rebecca Kynaston how he felt, PC Clark said: “I’m ex-military and I take some offence at that.
“I think it was uncalled for and unnecessary.”
Rebellious jukebox
Taking the witness stand, Grant insisted police were lying and he never said a word during the journey from Perth to Dundee.
Grant, who claimed he only had two beers that evening, said he had been listening to a playlist of “Celtic songs and IRA songs”.
He said a police officer told him: “It wasn’t the noise that was the problem, it was the type of music I was playing”.
Asked by Ms Kynaston: “So, this officer has put his career in jeopardy by lying under oath, because he was offended by your music?”
“Yes,” replied Grant.
Sheriff Francis Gill found Grant guilty. “I do not accept your version of events,” he said.
Solicitor Steven Lafferty, defending, told the court: “He has a significant record, but he wants to make clear he is not homophobic or sectarian – his ex-partner was called Paisley, named after Ian Paisley.”
Grant was jailed for two years in February for a grisly attack that left victim Robert Garrick disfigured.
The court heard he bit through Mr Garrick’s nose, taking part of it completely off.
Sentence was deferred for background reports until January 23.
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