Man punched police officer during Inverness city centre incident court hears

A MAN with mental health difficulties was concerned at the way a woman he knew had similar problems was being dealt with by police.

David Graham, of no fixed abode but who had been living in Island Bank Road, Inverness knew the distressed woman and intervened.

But Inverness Sheriff Court heard that his intended good deed “only inflamed matters”, according to defence solicitor Marc Dickson.

Graham punched one officer in the face and made threats of violence towards them in Union Street on May 15, 2019.

A warrant was issued for the 41-year-old’s arrest after he failed to appear for sentence at a previous court hearing.

But because he lived a transient lifestyle, it was only recently executed and he appeared before Sheriff Gary Aitken last Thursday to be dealt with.

The court heard he had moved to Dumfries and was currently serving a prison term.

He admitted threatening behaviour and police assault and was jailed for 28 days.

Mr Dickson said: “He was sprayed with an incapacitant and he struck out landing a glancing blow.

“There was some shouting and swearing and the whole thing shouldn’t have happened.”