Prisoner to stay behind bars for Christmas after 'extraordinary catalogue of offending' in Wick town centre

A man who had to isolate twice due to Covid connections put a police officer trying to arrest him at risk by spitting in his eye.

Police Constable Jake Macleod was treated in hospital but tests for the virus proved negative, Wick Sheriff Court was told last week.

It happened after drink-fuelled Eddie Macgregor (26) ran amok in Wick town centre committing an "extraordinary" catalogue of offences in a 24-hour period.

In two separate incidents, Macgregor incurred a total of five charges of assault – four against police officers and one against a pedestrian – causing damage and shouting and swearing. He pleaded guilty on indictment and admitted having a record.

Macgregor, who appeared from prison via a video link, was further remanded and will spend Christmas and the New Year behind bars.

Mr Barclay said that the attention of the police was drawn to Macgregor in High Street, Wick, around 1am on September 26. He appeared to be intoxicated and officers wanted to make sure he was okay.

Fiscal David Barclay told the court that as they approached him, the accused made his way to the Highland Hospice shop where he smashed a glass door panel.

Macgregor ran off and, as he was passing a group of women, he threw a remote control at one of them, striking her on the head, but luckily causing no serious injury.

The officers pursued the accused and found him trying to hide in Market Square. Mr Barclay described what happened when they were attempting to arrest him.

"Macgregor lashed out repeatedly, kicking Constables Lee Milner and Stephen George," the fiscal said. "The accused shouted and swore and repeatedly gestured he was going to spit at them but didn't actually do so."

Macgregor was apprehended but subsequently released. Later the same day, however, when police officers were called to Ashley Court, Wick, they observed Macgregor who was in an intoxicated state.

Mr Barclay said: "The accused, who was one of a group advised to go home, reacted badly to the advice and shouted and swore at the officers, although there is a suggestion that he was being wound up by his associates."

The fiscal continued: "He made his way to the unmarked police car, leaned on the bonnet and shouted to the officers, 'I may have Covid!' and spat on the bonnet and the windscreen.

"He then lashed out at the two officers, Constables Jonathon Wilkin and Rebecca Davies, kicking them and shouting and swearing at them. Then he turned to Constable Jake MacLeod and spat in his face. The saliva struck him in the eye."

The officer was subsequently treated in hospital but tests cleared him of any Covid implications. He was advised he didn't require any further "medical intervention".

Solicitor Fiona MacDonald said that prior to his weekend of offending, Macgregor had had to isolate on two separate occasions after the people he was with tested positive for Covid.

The accused had taken some drink after returning from a football match in Orkney and Miss MacDonald said that had he not done so he would not have faced the charges he did.

Sheriff Andrew Berry described such a combination of offences in a 24-hour period as an "extraordinary catalogue of offending" and remanded him "in the public interest," taking account of his record, which ran to two sheets of paper and included convictions for violence.

Macgregor will be sentenced on January 12 after the sheriff considers a background report.