Jail warning over drunken tirade at cops

A homeless man who unleashed a foulmouthed tirade of abuse at cops over a bottle of booze narrowly avoided being sent back to jail.

Brian Galloway, 29, admitted causing fear and alarm by shouting and swearing at Lindsay House on January 13.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that police were called to the Kittoch Street homeless unit to assist staff at 10.40pm when Galloway, who was a resident, refused to hand over a bottle of alcohol.

He swore at the officers and shouted at them to get out of his room.

Galloway continued to shout and swear and was arrested, cautioned and charged.

Galloway’s agent said his client was heavily intoxicated at the time and that he fully accepts he spoke to the officers in a manner that was not acceptable.

He added that his client was feeling down after losing touch with family members over the festive period and had been drinking excessively.

The court heard Galloway is currently out on licence and has still to serve an unexpired portion of a prison sentence of 108 days for another offence.

Deferring sentence for background reports, Sheriff Allan McKay told Galloway the only reason he was not sending him straight back to prison was due to the background of the offence.

Sheriff McKay added that Galloway had been abusive to police officers who were just trying to do their job in assisting staff at Lindsay House, who themselves do a very difficult job.

He told Galloway he could send him to prison for a year but, in light of the circumstances, he would give him an opportunity to change his ways.

Galloway, now of Arden Court, Hamilton, was bailed pending sentencing on July 24. The weather did not live up to expectations but the hardy teams who took part in East Kilbride’s 21st Relay for Life certainly did, raising a whopping £18,000 for Cancer Research UK.

The EK Pipe Band led out the teams for the 24-hour event on Friday, headed by the survivors on their customary lap of honour.

As night fell the atmosphere quietened as the Candle of Hope ceremony took place.

Relay committee chair Alex Bell thanked everyone who took part or donated. He said: “We had an amazing time and raised much -needed funds for CRUK.”

See next week’s News for a picture special from the event.