£1k fine for north man who spat at police officer and shouted offensive terms for disability
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SPITTING at a police officer has landed an Alness man with a hefty fine.
Officers came across Terence Urquhart (31), Westford, after visiting an address in the town looking for another person. Urquhart was drinking Buckfast at the time.
“Police stopped him and asked did he know the person they were looking for,” prosecutor Roderick Urquhart said at Tain Sheriff Court yesterday.
“At that point he became abusive and there was something of a stramash and he was shouting and swearing and calling the constables rude terms for having Down’s Syndrome and cerebal palsy.”
Urquhart, an offshore worker, had admitted at a previous court a charge of assault and another of threatening behaviour by swearing and shouting prejudiced remarks relating to disability.
The incident happened on Saturday, June 29, last year.
Defence agent Rory Gowans said drink was at the root of his client’s behaviour.
“He is one of these people who should not drink at all never mind in moderation because when he does drink in excess he has propensity to behave extremely foolishly, violently and offensively.”
The lawyer said Urquhart apologised to the police officers involved.
A background report prepared by social workers showed Urquhart to have since significantly reduced his drinking.
Mr Gowans said: “He is in a stable family unit and has a good job. I hope he is realising there are better things in life than ending up in prison.”
Sheriff Gary Aitken imposed a total fine of £1080 and told Urquhart he would have gone to jail were it not for the fact his offending behaviour had lessened since the incident.
