A Perth woman has been fined for headbutting a police officer during a Covid lockdown party.
The illicit gathering at a city centre flat happened in January 2021, on the day First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a range of updated restrictions.
Officers were called to the property on Pomarium Street after a complaint from a neighbour at 10.30pm.
Fiscal depute Stuart Hamilton told Perth Sheriff Court: “They heard various voices coming from within.
“The door was answered by two males, who told police they were there to consume alcohol.”
PC Danielle Melville stepped inside and was grabbed by accused Tay Davidson.
“The constable took hold of the accused’s arms, and the accused headbutted her to the face.”
Davidson, 22, of Pomarium Street, was restrained and arrested.
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said his client had stayed out of trouble since.
Sheriff Gillian Wade said: “This is a serious matter and merits a significant financial penalty” and fined her £375.
Baby-faced beast
A paedophile told his young victims he would “take the risk” of jail as he exploited them for naked photos and underage sex. Logan Summers, 20, from Dundee, pressured young girls into sending explicit images and lived in a tent with a 14-year-old behind a Dundee supermarket so he could abuse her.
Three-year-old burned
A burn on a Fife child’s arm came to light when the child asked a nursery worker to “look at his sore bit.”
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was only three years old when pointed out the injury.
At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, fiscal depute Ronnie Hay explained the boy had attended at nursery in Leven as normal the day after he had been burned.
The boy said to an early years officer: “Look at my sore bit.”
After being asked how it happened, the boy said: “Lee did it with a lighter.”
The nursery employee could see a U-shaped scab near the boy’s elbow.
Police were contacted and when Lee Ferguson, 38, of Glenrothes, was arrested, he said it was the first time he had been made aware of the injury.
In court, his solicitor Katie Stewart said: “The child had run towards candles and in an effort to prevent an injury, Mr Ferguson had lifted the child away.
“In trying to prevent an injury, he accepts he caused an injury.
“He was very, very upset. This has caused ongoing anxiety.
Ferguson admitted culpably and recklessly injuring the boy in Leven on May 25 2021 by holding a heated lighter against him.
Ferguson was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work.
Sheriff More told him: “You originally faced a charge of assault.
“An assault is an intentional act. You pled guilty to a lesser charge.
“Thereby, it is accepted that an injury which was caused to the child was not caused intentionally, but caused by recklessness.”
Motoring madness
Latif Sarok has been banned from driving after he reversed his BMW across the A90 into the path of an 84-year-old’s car. He said he was trying to avoid a traffic jam when he backed up for about 20 to 30 yards down the dual carriageway.
Racist ranter’s second chance
A teenager who launched into a racist tirade outside a Blairgowrie pub, forcing bar staff to lock themselves inside, has been given a chance to avoid prison.
Ryan Lochrane flew into a rage after being turfed out of The Crown as the evening descended into chaos after he was politely asked to wear a face mask.
The 19-year-old, of Princes Croft, Coupar Angus admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at Wellmeadow bar and assaulting a female police officer on June 25 2021.
Perth Sheriff Court heard Lochrane shouted “n****r” and described a staff member as “black,” before running at the front door and kicking it.
When police arrived, he shouted “English b****” and made violent threats.
Solicitor Steve Lafferty, defending, assured the court his client had “no problem with people of ethnicities or people from different nations.”
He said: “Mr Lochrane is disgusted and offers no excuses for his behaviour.
“But it didn’t help that he was dabbling with cocaine at the time.”
Mr Lafferty said alcohol was at the root of Lochrane’s offending.
Sheriff Gillian Wade told Lochrane: “I want to be absolutely clear that this is at the custody threshold.
“I’m not sure you know just how serious this is. You are in serious trouble.”
The sheriff imposed a structured deferred sentence and ordered Lochrane to stay out of trouble. His case will be reviewed on April 12.
Drugs and gun cache
Police uncovered a cache of drugs, ammunition and a rifle in a raid on a Carnoustie house. Officers found thousands of pounds worth of cannabis resin, cash, a tick-list and the operational firearm stuffed in the wall-space of Brian Conway’s home following a tip-off in April 2021. He will be sentenced next month.
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