Violent thug who punched and spat at officer is jailed

An Airdrie man has been jailed for six months for a series of crimes, including spitting at a police officer.

Alan Hughes, 38, committed a catalogue of offences, which began at Central health centre in Cumbernauld in November 2017.

He behaved in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm by shouting and swearing.

On the same day, Hughes, of Thrashbush Quadrant, repeated the offence at the A&E unit at Monklands Hospital.

While at the hospital, he punched a male constable on the head and then spat at him.

Hughes’next offence happened on April 26 last year when he stole a quantity of goods from Smartways Stores, on Plains Main Street.

He also assaulted an employee by attempting to headbutt him and admitted carrying a screwdriver in public.

Hughes was put on bail at Airdrie

Sheriff Court last April but breached the order when he failed to appear at court in July.

Then, on October 20, he stole alcohol from Aldi in Airdrie and breached two bail orders which had been imposed on him in August and September respectively.

Defence lawyer Nicky Matteo told the court that Hughes is currently serving a sentence imposed last month, and his earliest date of release is April 28.

Sheriff Morag Shankland jailed Hughes for six months, concurrently on the earlier offences, and deferred sentence on him until April 15 for the theft from Aldi.

The sheriff also called for a full social background report and a drug testing and treatment order assessment.