‘Utterly vile’ drunken man sentenced over foul rant at officers

COURT: Police sworn at after offering inebriated man lift to his hotel

An “utterly vile” drunken Dundee man who repaid police for the offer of a lift back to his Angus hotel by delivering a torrent of abuse and urinating in their van has narrowly avoided going to jail.

Inebriated Lee Godfrey had been on a day drinking session with colleagues on a training course in Montrose when police were called after he refused to leave a colleague’s house.

They offered to take the 37-year-old back to the town’s Links Hotel but Godfrey refused to head to bed and instead fired a foul tirade at the Good Samaritan officers he branded “jobsworths”.

Forfar Sheriff Court heard Godfrey’s behaviour was so bad police had no option but to arrest him.

Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said the incident had begun around 11pm.

“He was swearing at them in the area of the car park at the hotel when they got there and was asked by police to go in and go to his room, but repeatedly swore at them,” said the fiscal.

“He was then told he was under arrest but braced himself against the rear of the police van to stop himself being put in.

“He accepts the police were trying to do him a favour getting him back to his hotel and he has no idea what was in his mind.

DEFENCE SOLICITOR NICK MARKOWSKI

“During the journey he urinated in the van, having made no attempt to inform them he needed the toilet.”

Defence solicitor Nick Markowski said: “This is entirely alcohol related. He accepts the police were trying to do him a favour getting him back to his hotel and he has no idea what was in his mind.

“He has no recollection whatsoever of being transported from Montrose to Dundee and it appears nature took its course.

“By the time he was cautioned and charged he came to his senses and apologised, and he would now like to publicly apologise,” added Mr Markowski.

“His girlfriend gave him the choice that it was drink or her and he has not had a drink since September.”

Godfrey, of Greyhills Lane, Dundee, admitted behaving in a threatening manner on May 20 last year in Montrose, on the road to Dundee, at police headquarters, struggling with police and urinating in a police van.

Sheriff Derek Reekie told Godfrey: “The police have a hard enough job without having to deal with behaviour of this sort, which was utterly vile.

“You have a record for public disorder and a fine at any level would not act as a deterrent.

“I’m pleased to hear you’ve turned your life around and I take that at face value.

“Having regard to your record, I’m satisfied the custody threshold has been met but I am prepared to impose an alternative.”

He ordered Godfrey to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work within six months.