Moray patient spat in police sergeant's eye
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A hospital patient spat in a policeman's eye after causing a disturbance near the car park at Dr Gray's.
Officers were called to the incident on the evening of Sunday, March 6, 2021.
They found Nick McLeod on a footpath linking Braelossie Place with the hospital.
The 31-year-old shouted abuse and threatened to assault them.
He was placed in the rear cage of a police vehicle where he spat directly at the sergeant and repeatedly threatened to bite and headbutt the officers.
Leg restraints were applied and a search of McLeod revealed a brass knuckleduster in his pocket.
The first-time offender appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court where he admitted threatening behaviour, assault and possession of an offensive weapon.
Sentence had been deferred for a background report.
Defence solicitor Mike Chapman said: "He is extremely remorseful for his conduct.
"He had consumed a lot of alcohol, but since then he has gone through a six month rehabilitation course and is seen as a role model."
Mr Chapman added that his client "remains abstemious" and was still engaging with all the support available to him.
"This would all be lost to him if he should receive a custodial sentence."
Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald placed McLeod under the supervision of social workers for the next 18 months.
She said: "There is no doubt that you behaved appallingly.
"Spitting in someone's face was particularly dangerous over the past few years."
