A hepatitis sufferer who wounded a police officer with a blood-filled syringe after taking “legal highs” has been jailed for 11 months.
William Black repeatedly turned up at a police station looking for help because he had become paranoid after taking the controversial new psychoactive substances.
Black, 40, wanted to be put in a cell for his own safety because he was being chased by “demons” and thought people queuing for a bus were trying to kill him.
At one point an officer who tried to remove Black from the foyer of Perth Police HQ was pricked in the finger by the uncapped syringe in his pocket.
Perth Sheriff Court was told PC Gavin Booth had been taken to hospital and given medication to counter the possible effects of hepatitis and other ailments, including HIV.
Depute fiscal Gavin Letford said: “The accused was diagnosed with hepatitis C in August 2013. On December 2 last year he attended Perth Police Station.”
“Black went into the foyer and started shouting about being pursued. A violent struggle with police followed.
“Officers managed to apply handcuffs. The officer noted he had a needlestick injury to his finger which started to bleed.”
Solicitor David Holmes said: “He had lost all sense of reality, was fearful and paranoid. He thought people in the bus queue were after him.”
Black, of Menzies Court, Perth, admitted culpably and recklessly struggling violently with police while having an uncapped syringe and knowing he was a carrier of heptaitis C.
He admitted causing a needlestick injury during the incident at the Barack Street police office.