Tag for man who fled from police in town centre bust-up

A Forfar man who made off from police after being arrested for his part in a town centre disturbance has been placed on a four-month tagging order.

Arran Kirkwood, 23, of the town’s Lordburn Place, will be restricted to his home from 8pm to 6am daily after admitting charges relating to the incident at the junction of New Road and West High Street at the end of March,

Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told the town’s sheriff court that passing police saw a disturbance, with a large group standing by.

They stopped their vehicle and pulled Kirkwood away from another male, but the accused made a number of attempts to break free by lashing out.

“Due to the level of resistance, one officer drew his irritant spray and gave several warnings to the accused,” added the fiscal.

The spray did not have to be used, but as Kirkwood was being restrained on the ground others approached and made an attempt to rescue him, leading to the accused standing up, lashing out and breaking free before he ran off towards Dundee Loan.

He was arrested a short time later, and in a police vehicle repeatedly banged his head on a Perspex cage and made abusive racial remarks to an officer.

Defence solicitor Brian Bell said: “He is described in the criminal justice report as being mortified by his behaviour, as he should be.

“He let himself down very badly.”

He added: “It is not an extensive record and there has been a slowing down, but there are analogous convictions that may cause the court some concern. He has a habit of binge drinking.”