Man who threatened sheriff and injured police officer is jailed

A Lochgelly man who issued a chilling threat to a sheriff before struggling violently in the dock has been jailed for 10 months.

Derren Henderson appeared for sentencing at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court yesterday after admitting behaving in a threatening and abusive manner on August 23.

The 21-year-old reacted with fury after a sheriff at Dunfermline remanded him in custody for a separate matter.

He leaned over the front of the dock and said to Sheriff Charles Macnair QC: “Look at me – Macnair you’re dead.”

A G4S officer who was handcuffed to Henderson was left injured as the Lochgelly resident became violent.

A police officer was also injured.

Defence solicitor David Bell said his client accepted his guilt and added: “He knows it was a foolish outburst to have and he was frustrated that he was remanded in custody.”

Sheriff Gilchrist said: “The court does understand that feelings run high when someone is remanded in custody.

“However, your response went way beyond what the court could have turned a blind eye to.

“People who work in the court supporting the administration of justice need to feel safe and behaviour like this is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.

“A G4S officer sustained bruising whilst trying to deal with the disturbance you caused and a police officer has been referred to hospital for treatment to his injuries.

“Nothing that has been said on your behalf has persuaded me that there is any alternative to custody.”