A Perth man hurled his boxer shorts in the face of an open-mouthed police officer after being refused a cigarette following his arrest.
Daniel Johnson, 47, stripped naked and threw his underwear directly at the custody officer’s face while he was being processed for a public disorder offence.
Fiscal depute Lissie Cook told Perth Sheriff Court that Johnson had turned up at someone’s house and become involved in a verbal altercation on 22 December 2024.
“A struggle ensued between them and police were contacted,” she said. “The accused was being conveyed to the custody suite at Dundee police HQ.
“His mood was very up and down. He repeatedly asked for a cigarette and when it was explained that the police officer only had roll-up tobacco he erupted at this.”
Johnson shouted “open the doors – I’ll have youse,” before he began headbutting the walls of the cage inside the police van. He was taken out of the van and dropped to the ground.
Boxer shorts ‘did make contact’
“He made mention of self-harm and was required to be stripped of his clothing and placed in an anti-harm suit. He threw his boxer shorts at the police officer.
“The custody officer’s mouth was open and the boxer shorts did make contact. The accused was then placed in a lockfast cell.”
Johnson, from Perth, admitted engaging in a struggle with another man in the city’s Proudfoot Court on 22 December 2024.
He also admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing, making threats and throwing his boxer shorts at the officer.
Solicitor Bethany Downham, defending, said: “He has provided his own version of events and it differs. On that day he had been out at the pub drinking with friends.
“Police came to his home and this infuriated him. He did not believe a strip search was necessary and he reacted by throwing his underwear.”
Sheriff Clair McLachlan deferred sentence for a proof in mitigation because of the differences in the accused and the Crown’s version of events.
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