‘Devil’ attack on two cops

Officers tell of‘unrelenting violence’

A man who attacked two police officers claimed the devil was inside him.

Daniel Mullen was jailed for two years and three months at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

The 55-year-old punched, kicked and bit the officers and started eating a hood put over his face to stop him spitting at them.

Mullen, a prisoner, admitted threatening or abusive behaviour in Albert Terrace, Hamilton, and at Hairmyres Hospital on September 15. He also admitted assaulting PCS Megan Semple and Stephen Wright.

Paula Russell, prosecuting, said calls from members of the public alerted officers to a disturbance.

PCS Semple and Wright arrived to find Mullen apparently drunk and bleeding from a head wound. He started chasing a young woman who appeared very upset.

Ms Russell said the officers caught up with Mullen and he turned violent, hitting both of them and threatening to kill PC Wright.

Re-inforcements were called for, but before they arrived, Mullen had punched PC Semple, knocking her to the ground. The fiscal went on: “He then kicked her repeatedly on the head. Mullen himself went to ground and used his legs to lift PC Semple’s head and struck it off the pavement.

“Mullen continued to lash out, punching PC Wright repeatedly and spitting blood in his face before biting him. He didn’t release his teeth until the officer punched him twice on the jaw.

“Mullen then grabbed PC Semple’s baton and tried to pull it from its holster, screaming he was going to kill the officers.

“PC Wright withdrew his Pava spray and administered three short bursts in Mullen’s face.

“That didn’t incapacitate him completely, but it gave the officer the chance to put on a handcuff and take some semblance of control.”

Ms Russell said other officers arrived but Mullen continued to struggle. She added: “A spit hood was applied, but he started to eat it, so a second one had to be put on.

“Due to what they described as his unrelenting violence, officers decided to take Mullen to hospital themselves, rather than have him go in an ambulance.

“At Hairmyres Hospital he continued to struggle and shouted at staff. They refused to become involved with him and a senior consultant was called to sedate him.

“This appeared to have no effect. He was heard shouting ‘The devil’s inside me’ and ‘I’ve been crucified’.

“He required to be restrained continuously as he spat blood and saliva at police officers.

“Several spit hoods had to be applied and the treatment room was covered in blood and saliva.

“It was two hours before he was examined. Cuts to his head were superficial, but he also had a broken arm.”

The court heard PC Semple suffered concussion, a cut to her left ear and bruising to her lip and face. She was physically sick twice.

Her colleague had bite wounds on three fingers and scratches to his hands and face.

Both officers were given a sevenday course of antibiotics to guard against contamination from Mullen’s saliva. PC Wright had to be vaccinated against hepatitis.

Solicitor Nigel Scullion said Mullen had “little recollection of events”, adding: “The week before this he was seen by a psychiatric nurse.

“There are a number of issues with regard to his mental health.”