A yob threatened to murder and rape police officers and their families before challenging them to a topless fight in Aberdeen city centre.
Paul Seivwright was first lifted by police outside Soul bar after threatening revellers on Union Street.
He then went on to hurl a barrage of abuse at his arresting officers – threatening to “murder and rape them before doing the same to their families”.
The 43-year-old had been approached by police after an earlier incident where he threatened a couple for money, telling them: “Unless you give me money I’ll take you for anything you have.”
Fiscal depute Alison Reid told Aberdeen Sheriff Court how Seivwright then threatened to pour mystery liquid over the couple during the incident in Union Sreet on April 4, last year.
The disturbed pair flagged down police shortly after and pointed out Seivwright sitting across the road.
When police arrived he unleashed a torrent of abuse at them, before struggling with them and trying to spit on them as he was arrested.
Threatened to murder and rape
He then shared his unsavoury threats with officers inside the police vehicle.
“While being taken to Kittybrewster police station and booked into custody, he repeatedly threatened to have both constables murdered and raped and to do the same to their families,” the fiscal said.
He also threatened to infect the pair with Covid-19 and swore at another telling him to return home to Ireland.
The court heard how Seivwright had been drinking heavily at the time to deal with grief over the death of his partner, and guilt over a fear he had played a part in her death by giving her coronavirus.
Officers had to deal with Seivwright again a month later when he was again arrested on Union Street.
This time he was heavily intoxicated and found “stumbling about the street” at around 11pm on May 26.
Accused threatened to assault and rob cops
Mrs Reid said: “When officers approached he became aggressive and started to shout, swear and threaten to kill them both. He then removed his upper clothing and stood in the centre of Union Street.
“He continued to shout at the constables, stating he would rob and assault them. Officers said he had fists clenched as if ready to fight.”
When the same Irish officer dealt with him at the custody suite again, Seivwright stated he would “stab him” and “attack him and his family at his home”.
Seivwright admitted two charges of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.
Has had time for ‘sober reflection’
Defence agent Chris Maitland said Seivwright was “extremely intoxicated on both occasions”.
“He cannot exactly remember everything that happened,” he said. “He does now, upon sober reflection, accept everything that has been said.
“He had been drinking due to grief at the loss of his partner and guilt that he feels he played a part in that because he believes he caught Covid first and passed it on to his partner who later died.
“He does have mental health difficulties and intoxicating himself will only have exacerbated those.
“He wishes to get across his apologies to everybody involved for his behaviour.”
Handed a prison sentence
Sheriff Graham Buchanan described the offences as “unpleasant”, with the first causing “anxiety to perfectly innocent members of the public”.
“They, quite rightly, should have been able to expect to walk through the streets of Aberdeen without encountering the behaviour you subjected them to,” he added.
He sentenced Seivwright, a prisoner of HMP Grampian, to 13 months in prison.
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