Elgin man jailed after he spat at police officers
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An Elgin man who was hospitalised after he consumed a large quantity of valium spat at police officers.
David Arthur, described as an Inverness prisoner, had been displaying Covid symptoms but was later tested negative.
The 34-year-old had originally been arrested on suspicion of having a knife in Elgin.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told he was on his way to the police station on the morning of June 2 to give himself up.
However, as he was under the influence of the drug, the officers decided he needed a medical examination.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir told Sheriff Sara Matheson that it was on the way to Burnett Road police station after being discharged hospital that Arthur became disruptive.
He exposed himself to a female officer in the back of a police van and threatened to urinate.
He also shouted and swore in addition to banging on the vehicle's cell door.
At the station's custody suite, Arthur again became aggressive and made racial remarks to two white officers who were dressed in full PPE.
Mr Weir added that efforts to interview Arthur proved difficult as he kept falling asleep.
While being returned to his cell he became alert and again aggressive when police tried to take his trousers and jumper from him because he was deemed a suicide risk.
Arthur spat at an officer as the cell door was closing.
However later that day, he apologised to officers for offending anyone.
Defence solicitor Iain Houston said his client still had the drug in his system when he was taken to the police station.
He added that Arthur had felt it unnecessary that his clothes be handed over because he didn't feel suicidal.
Arthur was jailed for 11 months after admitting two charges of threatening behaviour and one of assault.
The sentence was backdated to June 3, the date he was remanded.
