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Elgin woman spat at police officers after calling them claiming she "needed to be arrested"





AN Elgin woman who spat at police officers after phoning them herself claiming that she "needed to be arrested" has been ordered to carry out hours of unpaid work.

Elgin Sheriff Court. Picture: Daniel Forsyth
Elgin Sheriff Court. Picture: Daniel Forsyth

Tifina Leonce (22) of Scone Road in Elgin phoned police officers at around 2am on November 7 last year asking to be arrested.

Leonce was found on a road near Elgin Golf Club where she told officers that she "had done bad things".

Officers suspected she had been drinking as she started to shout.

Fiscal depute Victoria Silver told Elgin Sheriff Court that Leonce then gave one officer a "weak push".

However, when another officer tried to lead her away she spat at his face causing "saliva to strike him on his body".

She was subsequently taken into custody at Elgin Police Station where she is said to have become aggressive at around 3am.

Leonce then spat at another officer with "intent to make contact" but missed.

She was later released on a citation.

Defence solicitor Iain Maltman told the court that his client felt guilty for not being punished for things she had done in the past and had been drinking heavily when she phoned the police.

He said that Leonce, who holds a degree in psychology, has "dealt with a lot in her young life" and was using alcohol as a form of "self medication".

He added: "I believe this demonstrates some insight into the offending."

Mr Maltman also revealed that his client has self referred to Quarriers Arrows Service in Elgin which she will attend on a weekly basis.

Sheriff Robert Frazer said: "Spitting is not only disgusting but quite frankly dangerous given the climate we now all live in.

"And to spit at officers who were simply going about their duty because you had phoned them.

"You must accept the consequences of your actions."

Sheriff Frazer handed Leonce a one-year supervision order and ordered her to complete 120 hours of unpaid work.


View our fact sheet on court reporting here




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