A 45-year-old Inverness man was jailed for three months yesterday for spitting on a police officer’s face – on the same day he was released from prison.
Ian Lindsay left prison on March 24 and went to Strathmhor Guesthouse in Kenneth Street, but upon arrival found it to be shut. When he returned later he kicked a door at the guesthouse and then took his anger out on police officers who had been called to attend.
Sheriff James Scott told Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday that the act was a “disgusting and provocative form of assault and has in the past led to the “spreading of disease”.
Lindsay’s sentence was backdated to March 27 when he was first remanded in custody for the spitting offence.
Fiscal Ross Carvel told Inverness Sheriff Court that police were contacted shortly after the offence at about 6.45pm on March 24.
He added: “When they (police) dealt with him he became abusive and shouted and was told that he was being arrested for threatening and abusive behaviour, at which point the accused spat in a constable’s face. He was taken to Burnett Road Police Station.”
Defence solicitor Graham Mann said that his client was released early on March 24 and told to go to the guesthouse at a specific time but could not get in, and when he turned up later he let out his frustration.
Mr Mann added that, although his client had initially pled not guilty to the spitting matter, he could not be confronted until yesterday with the evidence from a witness on the spitting incident which, until that point, he had no recollection of due to being under the influence.
Lindsay was admonished on the second charge of acting in a disorderly manner by kicking a door at the guesthouse and committing a breach of the peace.