A Fife man who launched a vile tirade of racist abuse at police officers has been jailed.
Robert Townley appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court where he also admitted being in possession of a firearm without a licence at an address in Thornton.
The 28-year-old, previously of Lawson Street in Kirkcaldy, was found to have the air weapon tucked into the waistband of his trousers when officers arrested him on November 25.
Townley began threatening the arresting officers, saying he would kill them and their families, before being taken to the police station.
Depute fiscal Sarah Lumsden told the court: “At around 6.19pm, police officers were called to the address of the accused’s partner.
“At about 6.40pm, police officers accessed the PNC database and established that a warrant was outstanding for the accused.
“Officers entered a room in the property and found the accused lying face down on a bed. They took hold of an arm each but the accused became aggressive and began shouting and swearing at the officers.
Miss Lumsden continued: “While the accused was being handcuffed, officers noticed what they believed to be a gun sticking out of the accused’s waistband of his trousers.
“The accused was shouting that he was going to kill the officer, that he knew where they lived and he would kill them and their families.”
Townley continued his abusive tirade throughout the journey to the police station where he was placed into a cell after refusing to answer welfare questions.
Townley then directed abuse towards an officer who he called a “p***” and threatened to kill his “bairns”.
Defence solicitor David Bell said that the air pistol did not belong to his client and was actually owned by the former partner of his girlfriend.
He added that Townley never aimed it at anybody and he had put it in the waistband of his trousers before the police arrived.
Mr Bell added that he client was due to be released from a current prison sentence in August 2019 but accepted that it would now be extended.
Sheriff James Williamson blasted the thug for his behaviour which he described as “outrageous” and ordered him to spend 27 months in prison.
The latest sentence will begin at the end of his current sentence.
