Thug told officers he would chop them up

A thug who threatened to set police officers’ homes on fire and stab their children has been jailed.

William Smith, 29, whose address was given as a prisoner of Addiewell, pleaded guilty to five charges when he appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court last week.

Smith admitted stealing a car on September 21 last year before swiping a TV from a house.

Two days later he broke into a hotel and was found on a street carrying a machete.

While being escorted to Coatbridge police office, Smith made threats of violence towards two male cops and a female constable.

Prosecutor Liz Ross told the court: “En route he became verbally abusive and told officers he would find out where they stayed and kill them.

“He shouted to them, ‘ f** k the police, you’re f***ing scum. Just you watch, I’ll find out where you live. I will get your names off of the indictment and set your homes on fire with your weans in it. I will stab your weans in the throat.’

“He went on with his abuse saying, ‘f**k the court. I will set fire to it with all the sheriffs in it. F**k the Pope as well’.

“He then told officers he would chop them up and set fire to their cars.

“On arrival at Coatbridge police office he was not formally cautioned and charged and not interviewed because of the threats he had made to police officers.”

Defence lawyer Linda Findlay said: “He is very ashamed of his behaviour, particularly the threats.

“He has little recollection of events as he was under the influence of alcohol and street valium and has a history of substance abuse.

“At the time his mother was terminally ill with cancer and subsequently passed away.”

Sheriff Vincent Smith went off the bench for 15 minutes to decide on the sentence.

Sheriff Smith then told Smith: “These were despicable comments you made towards police officers doing their duty.

“You have a significant previous history of crimes of dishonesty, assault and of possession of offensive weapons.”

Smith was jailed for a total of 44 months, but the sheriff reduced it to 33 months because of his early guilty pleas.

He also backdated the sentence to October 22 last year, when Smith was first remanded in custody.