Man who ran from police given three months

AN OBAN man who ran away from police officers thinking they were going to attack him was sentenced to three months in prison after a trial at Oban Sheriff Court last Wednesday (August 3).

Mark Pert, 32, c/o HMP Low Moss Prison, told Sheriff John Herald he thought he was about to be attacked by a ‘grey haired man’ and ran away because he was ‘frightened’.

Giving evidence, Police Constable Paul McMillian said he clearly identified himself as a police officer and had tried to arrest the man before he ran off.

On May 29, constable McMillian and his colleague police constable Danny McBeth were searching a ‘known drug user’ at Colonsay Terrace when the man received a text saying ‘2 mins’.

Constable McBeth told the court he believed there was a ‘drug deal going down’ and the officers waited with the man they had been investigating to find out who would arrive.

Pert arrived at the scene and after breaking free from officers quickly ran off. Pert claimed he was not aware the men were police officers.

Giving evidence Pert said: ‘I was under duress from people in the area and it was flight or fight. I didn’t know it was a police officer until I heard him on his radio saying he was chasing me.

‘People in the town have been chasing me, intimidating me and have been speaking against me. I thought I was being attacked. I didn’t realise it was the police.’

Sheriff Herald said there was no doubt in his mind Pert had ran away from officers and as such had intentionally obstructed police officers in their duties.