Scone man who butted PC given jail warning

A Scone man who attacked a police officer while subject to a bail order was told at Perth Sheriff Court that he had “opened the door”to a prison sentence.

But Sheriff William Wood agreed to give him a chance after he said he “wanted to get himself sorted out.”

Twenty-one-year-old Kyle Laing, said by his lawyer to live“a bit of a harum, scarum life at present,”had his sentence deferred for three months.

During that time he will take part in the Right Track scheme, designed to keep youngsters on the straight and narrow, and stay out of further trouble.

The accused, of Catmoor Court, admitted at an earlier court that he butted PC Scott Birrell on the body in Perth’s Letham Road on October 25.

He was subject to a July 12 bail order at the time.

He had not guilty pleas accepted to further charges of shouting and swearing and refusing to stop and drinking in a public place where alcohol was banned.

He had been remanded in custody since the turn of the year after he failed to turn up for a background report interview.

Depute fiscal Craig Donald said police were on patrol in the Letham area about 10.45pm when their attention was drawn to the accused.

He was handcuffed and initially appeared calm for a short period.

“But he then struck out with his head, butting the police officer on the chest.”

A solicitor for the accused said he had been “sofa surfing”around that time and was registered as homeless.

He added:“I think this period of incarceration has been something of a wake-up call for him.”

Deferring sentence until April 12, Sheriff Wood told him:“If you don’t get yourself sorted out, you will see a lot more of the inside of the cells.”