Man who threatened police officers is jailed
A Campbeltown man who made threats and repeatedly spat on a female police officer has been jailed. Michael Coates, aged 56, 10C Burnbank Street, Campbeltown, pleaded guilty at Campbeltown Sheriff Court to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and assaulting the officer on July 24 this year. Procurator fiscal depute Eoin McGinty told the court that Coates, who has an extensive record of previous convictions in Scotland and England, was approached by police and asked to dismount the bicycle he was riding. Mr McGinty said Coates immediately became aggressive and told the officers: ‘You would never survive in Glasgow, you’re too small.’ After he ignored warnings about his conduct and was arrested, he said: ‘If these cuffs come off, I’ll break your nose in two minutes. ‘I’ll find out where you stay and nail you off duty. You’ll not see it coming.’ He repeatedly spat on the female officer’s face and head and began hitting her. At the police station, he remained aggressive and and refused to answer any questions. He made homophobic remarks to officers and threatened their families, saying: ‘This is a small town. I’ll find out where you all live and on a cold winter’s night when you least expect it, you’re f ***** .’ Defence solicitor Michael Foster told the court that although Coates had an extensive record of previous convictions, he had not offended for several years prior to this incident and there had been a ‘substantial change’ in his lifestyle. ‘From being a habitual criminal, he has now been crime free for five years,’ said Mr Foster. ‘By way of explanation but in no way an excuse, Mr Coates feels that since he returned to the area, he has been subjected to unnecessary attention from the police.’ He said that in this instance, ‘his state of anger persisted because there was a degree of force in restraining him’ and he recognises that his behaviour was ‘not justified’. Sheriff Patrick Hughes said Coates’ behaviour was ‘wholly unacceptable’. Sentencing him to six months’ imprisonment, Sheriff Hughes said: ‘The nature of this offence, the threats and repeated spitting in the face of a female police officer requires a custodial sentence, especially given your record of previous convictions.’