Thurso man bit police officer after row over wallet
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Drunken George Harper paid a visit to the home of a man he believed might know something about his missing wallet.
Harper (63) repeatedly bang and kicked on the front door of the house in Mount Pleasant Road, Thurso – the street where the accused also lives – and the police were summoned, Wick Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday.
Officers who arrived on the scene, on March 25, heard a voice from inside the property saying: "I don't have it... it is not here."
Harper had earlier been drinking in the house with the occupant, David Tashzizi, and returned later having consumed "more alcohol than was good for him".
Harper shouted and swore at the officers and made threats about what he would do to them and their families.
Depute Fiscal David Barclay said that the accused was arrested and put in a police vehicle where he revealed he had found his wallet.
The accused's abusive behaviour continued on the way to Wick police station, where he punched Constable Thomas Staples and pulled Sergeant Andrew Mackay to the ground and bit him.
Harper admitted charges of abusive behaviour and assault.
Solicitor Megan Anderson referred to a background report on Harper which stated that his mental health had been affected during the Covid pandemic and continued: "He turned to alcohol as a crutch."
Miss Anderson said that Harper had no recollection of his conduct, which she said was entirely out of character. He was receiving help from drug and alcohol agencies.
Sheriff Mark Lindsay said he was satisfied that Harper would not have behaved in the way he did, had he been sober, and concluded that it wasn't necessary to impose a prison term.
Harper was made subject to a two-year supervision order. However, the sheriff told him: "You assaulted a police officer in the execution of his duty and will pay him compensation of £500."
