Inverness court hears policeman was kicked in face and colleagues spat at by Forres man
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A MAN who kicked a policeman in the face before spitting at other officers has been jailed for three months.
Blair Cotter (33) appeared by video link at Inverness Sheriff Court for sentencing by Sheriff Robert Frazer having previously admitted the police assault, culpable and reckless conduct by spitting.
The offences took place on July 5, 2021. He was on remand for over five months for the offence.
Sentence had earlier been deferred for a drug treatment and testing order for which Cotter was deemed unsuitable by social workers.
He had also admitted an earlier charge of assaulting his partner in Dingwall’s Dewar Square on June 1, 2020 by slapping her on the head and then striking her on the head with a roll of kitchen foil to her injury.
The offences committed last July began when two constables required assistance from another two to get Cotter under control in Church Street, Inverness.
Fiscal depute Martina Eastwood said that police officers had been called to a disturbance outside MacCallum’s Bar, in Union Street, at about 9pm.
The officers were given Cotter’s name and went to look for him, before locating him in Church Street, Mrs Eastwood went on.
She added: “He refused to co-operate and was taken to the ground. The officers required assistance and two others were quickly on the scene. But he rolled partially on to his back and kicked one in the face. Leg restraints had to be applied to stop him lashing out.”
Cotter, of Twinning Link, Forres was taken to Burnett Road Police Station where he spat several times at a custody officer but no contact was made.
Defence solicitor John MacColl said: “He had had a couple of pints but was not inebriated or under the influence of drugs, However he was disinhibited to a degree.
“He said he broke a rib when police piled on to him and he just kicked out.”
Sheriff Frazer told Cotter that because of the time he had spent on remand, he would limit the sentence which would start immediately, adding the offences were serious.
