Security officer attacked during strip search for drugs in Inverness
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An Inverness man with serious convictions for violence attacked a police cell security officer during a strip search for drugs.
Paul Chalmers, of Tobruk Road, Inverness repeatedly punched the man on the face and body in Inverness's Burnett Road Police Station after he was arrested on another matter in the early hours of June 2.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that officers found a wrap containing 9.1 grams of cannabis in his underpants.
But fiscal depute David Morton said that when Chalmers was told he had missed the cut-off point for court that day and would be in custody over the weekend, "he took exception to this".
"He was due to be handcuffed but managed to free one hand and punched the security officer who did not suffer any injury," Mr Morton said. "It was a relatively short incident."
Mr Morton added that Chalmers, who appeared from custody and admitted the assault and possession of cannabis, had been on licence from a prison sentence. He said that he had been recalled to finish his sentence.
The court heard his current sentence was not due to expire until the end of September 2025.
Defending, Cameron Murdoch told Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald: "When he was told he would be remanded over the weekend, his emotions got the better of him.
"But no officer should be subjected to this kind of behaviour. He did apologise."
Jailing him for seven months, Sheriff Macdonald told Chalmers: "You have a fairly significant record and you have serious previous convictions for violence causing serious injury with weapons and to the danger of life.
"You subjected this officer to significant violence."
