Mercy for brute who tried to bite cop

Serial crook dodges prison

A crook with 56 convictions has been spared jail after trying to bite a cop – because his mum died after he was lifted.

Barry McInally, 29, has a record for carrying weapons, assault, drugs and breach of the peace.

He had been partying with his mother hours before she died, but was detained and taken to a police station in connection with a separate matter.

The yob lunged at PC Christopher Higgins, who revealed his mum had died after he had been arrested.

At Paisley Sheriff Court McInally admitted assaulting the policeman but was released on bail.

Defence lawyer Waqqas Ashraf pleaded for mercy to allow his client to attend the funeral.

He said: “He was arrested on New Year’s Day.

“He had been celebrating New Year with his mum and family.

“When he arrived at the police station he was told his mum had passed away unexpectedly.

“He is already on a Community Payback Order, is making good progress, and I would ask for him to be released on bail.”

McInally had been with his mum shortly before her sudden death at a bash at his home in North Road, Johnstone.

But, when he arrived at the police station to be processed, he was informed she had passed away on January 1.

He tried to sink his teeth into PC Higgins and was locked in a cell for two nights.

The brute pled guilty to assaulting the cop during the execution of his duty.

A charge of acting in a threatening or abusive manner by baw l i n g , swearing and making threats, struggling with police and striking his head repeatedly off a police car during the trip to the station was dropped.

Sheriff James Spy released him on bail so he could attend his mother’s funeral.

He said: “I was thinking of remanding you in custody given your record, but given the tragic circumstances here I’ll grant you bail.”

McInally has been ordered to return to court next month for sentencing andfor a review of a Community Payback Order imposed for a previous case.