Drunk man threw paint over car and abused cops
A drunken Perth man threw white paint over a neighbour’s Vauxhall Insignia sports tourer parked in the city centre.
And when 43-year-old Colin Swan was traced at his home a short time later, police noticed he had white paint on his hands, Perth Sheriff Court was told.
But he became “very hostile” towards officers as they spoke to him - and he challenged them to fight before hurling homophobic abuse at them.
The accused, who also spat on a police constable, was spared a jail term after the court heard that a recent stroke had led him to change his lifestyle.
Swan, of Craigie Road, will have to complete 140 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months and will be supervised for a year.
Previously of Union Lane, he admitted acting in an aggressive manner and shouting and swearing at police in Union Lane on June 25, 2020.
He also pled guilty to a spitting on PC Connor Lees’ body.
A third count involved him wilfully or recklessly throwing paint over the car.
Depute fiscal Tina Dickie said that the car owner had seen Swan outside in the street about 9pm and he “appeared heavily intoxicated”.
She added: “He was staggering about and was seen to have a bottle of white paint in his hand.”
He opened it and then dropped it on the car, splattering the rear offside wheel and wheel arch.
When officers went to his door, he said: “Nothing’s happened here. I’ll fight you all.”
Ms Dickie added: “He was asked to calm down by one of the officers but replied: ‘I can take you, you specky b***ard.’
“He then began flayling his arms and thereafter spat on PC Lees.”
He also called one of the constables a “baldie p**ck” and another “a p**f.”
Solicitor Linda Clark said: “He had consumed a significant amount of alcohol.”
He had subsequently suffered a stroke and she added: “The impact of that has curtailed his alcohol consumption.
“He has also changed his lifestyle absolutely significantly on medical advice.”
He now lives with his 81-year-old mother and is her carer.
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio described Swan’s behaviour as “disgraceful” but told him: “You have, in the recent past, turned over a new leaf after suffering significant health problems.”
He reminded the accused that the community payback order was a direct alternative to prison.