Jailed for Japp Square fracas
Pint sized teen lashed out at police
It took three police officers to try to subdue a pint-sized teenager when she was taken to Perth Police Station after losing control and lashing out at them.
Drunken Megan Duffy, said to have an alcohol problem at just 19, repeatedly kicked one officer and then spat on her.
She then booted another woman constable during the violent episode in Coupar Angus.
She continued her aggressive behaviour at the police station charge bar and the trio of officers was needed to try to calm her down.
Her unacceptable behaviour led to her being given 120 days’ detention when she appeared for sentence at Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday last week.
Duffy, now back living with her mother in Isla Road, Alyth, admitted shouting and swearing and behaving aggressively at Japp Square, Coupar Angus, on July 16.
She also assaulted PCs Julie Hoskins and Jillian Gilchrist at Perth Police Station.
She was subject to a July 14 bail order from the Perth court at the time.
Depute fiscal Bill Kermode said the accused had contacted police at 1am to report she had been grabbed by the hair.
Due to her “slurred speech,” it was difficult to obtain further details and officers were sent to Japp Square.
She was standing in the street and demanded her cigarettes from the flat she had been staying.
She made no mention of earlier being assaulted as police asked her to calm down.
But she ignored their numerous requests and instead told them to “f*** off.”
She was taken to Perth Police HQ and while in a holding cell made “several attempts to head butt and kick the wall”.
The fiscal explained: “PC Hoskins approached her and tried to restrain her, for her own safety, but she kicked her on her left leg.”
She then kicked PC Gilchrist on the body and again kicked PC Hoskins, also spitting on her, as she was taken to an observation cell.
Both officers received slight bruising but didn’t need any medical treatment.
After she was charged with one of the assaults, Duffy said: “I apologise. I spat on her. “Sorry - that’s disgusting.” Solicitor Steve Lafferty said his client had taken stock of her situation and wanted to “turn her life around”.
He added: “She recognises she has a problem with alcohol and needs to get this sorted.”
He pointed out that she had spent 23 days in custody.
Sheriff Fiona Tait backdated the four months’ detention to July 18.
Baby-faced Duffy will return to court for sentence on September 7 after previously admitting attacking her mother, Bernadette, at New Year.
During that violent incident, which took place at her mum’s house in Isla Road on January 2, Duffy pushed her, pulled her hair and repeatedly stamped on her body, to her injury.