No jail for Thurso man who spat at police officer

A Thurso man who bit two police officers and spat at one of them avoided a jail sentence at Wick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

However, Sheriff Joseph Platt warned Kennan McIvor that such attacks usually warranted a custodial sentence.

McIvor (26) admitted both charges. The court was told that police were called to the accused's home in St Magnus Road, Thurso, on January 2, to investigate "some sort of argument or disturbance".

Fiscal David Barclay said that McIvor appeared to be agitated and didn't appreciate the presence of the officers.

The accused, who was "heavily under the influence of alcohol", bit Constable Connor Milne and spat at him, and then proceeded to bite PC Stephen Todd. Neither sustained an injury.

Solicitor Fiona MacDonald said that McIvor, a first offender, had no recollection of the incident but had taken steps to address his drinking.

Sheriff Platt, who saw a background report, ordered the accused to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work.

But he warned him that attacks on police officers, aggravated in this case by spitting on one of them, in the current Covid climate, usually incurred a prison sentence.