Drunk Elgin man (38) directed abuse and tried to spit on police officers: 'Do you want it?', he said to officers who asked if he had symptoms of coronavirus

POLICE officers were subjected to a torrent of abuse and repeated spitting when they arrested a 38-year-old Elgin man on Monday night.

Ian Mitchell was drinking heavily in his home at Findhorn Court, when officers came to arrest him following an allegation against him.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told today that Mitchell immediately became irate, calling the police "mongols."

As he was being placed in the police van, he began spitting towards the police who managed to shut the door before anyone was struck.

Fiscal depute David Morton said: "He was taken to the charge bar where he continued to be irate and abusive. Every person in that situation is asked a series of questions, particularly if they have Covid or symptoms.

"He replied 'yes I have it' and was told it was not a laughing matter. He then asked them 'Do you want it?' and manoeuvered towards them as if to cough or spit in their direction.

"He was restrained and then as is the protocol during the Coronavirus crisis, he was taken to the custody suite in Inverness where he continued as before and spitting."

Defence solicitor Stephen Carty told Sheriff Margaret Neilson: "It will come as no surprise to the court that he has no recollection of this as he was heavily under the influence of alcohol."

Mr Carty said that his client, who admitted one charge of threatening behaviour and one of police assault, had other matters calling at Elgin Sheriff Court on August 7.

Sheriff Neilson agreed to defer sentence to Elgin on that date. But she remanded Mitchell in custody "because of the six bail orders he was on at the time, his record and the disgusting nature of the offences."