A Fife teenager, who spat in the eye of a policeman trying to help him after finding him collapsed in a drunken stupor, has received a custodial sentence.
The officer had to wait months before hearing whether he had been infected with hepatitis in the incident.
Nicholas Cameron, 19, of St Kilda Crescent, Kirkcaldy, committed a string of offences after being found lying drunk in a Cowdenbeath street.
Cameron admitted that on May 13 last year at Broad Street, Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline police station and in the course of a journey in a police vehicle to Victoria Hospital, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly shouting, swearing, struggling and threatening police officers with violence.
He also admitted that at Broad Street he assaulted a police officer by attempting to punch and kick him on the body and attempting to headbutt him to the face.
Cameron further admitted that at Victoria Hospital he assaulted a second constable by spitting in his eye and on his face.
The officer had to undergo blood tests for hepatitis before being given the all-clear months later.
Defence solicitor Jonathan Mathieson-Dear said his client accepted the spitting incident in particular was “especially distasteful” and had asked about the officer’s recovery.
The police had found his client “comatose” and gone to his aid, continued the solicitor.
“He’s aware that type of behaviour will not be tolerated by the courts.”
Sheriff Craig McSherry imposed a custodial sentence of eight months.