Drunk yob spent night in cells after lashing out

Paid the price for abusing cops

A boozed-up lout brawled with cops called to a late night disturbance at his home, a court heard.

Foul-mouthed Graham Kelly, 31, turned the air blue with vile language and struggled with officers who attended amid complaints of a racket coming from his house at Orchard Street, Renfrew, on May 27.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard the accused and his pal, Greg Lee, had been enjoying a late night drink at the property when cops were alerted to the disturbance within.

Fiscal depute John Penman said: “It was around 1am when police attended the locale. It was essentially over reports of a disturbance and officers found themselves at Orchard Street.

“When dealing with the incident at the property, Mr Kelly conducted himself in the manner described and a brief struggle took place causing police officers to remand the accused in custody.”

Kelly appeared in the dock where he pleaded guilty to charges of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear and alarm by shouting, swearing and acting in aggressive manner and also struggling with police officers.

However a not guilty plea by his co-accused Greg Lee was accepted by the prosecutor.

Defence agent Tony Callahan said his client regretted the matter had landed him in court.

He said: “He was drinking with a friend when police came to the door and an argument developed between them.

“He accepts he should not have acted in the manner outlined and he spent a night in the cells for his troubles.

“He is a man of 31 who does not drink to excess and he would like to put the matter very much behind him.”

However, Sheriff Raymond McMenamin tore a strip off the accused and hammered him with a £225 fine.

He said: “You caused significant annoyance for the police officers and residents and spent a night in the cells.”