Woman abused officers

A WOMAN has admitted being abusive to police and an Oban taxi driver after being refused to be taken to Glasgow.

Margaret Hogg Watson, 49, of 21 Golspie Street, Glasgow, pleaded guilty to acting in an aggressive and threatening or abusive manner, and uttering threats of violence at Station Square, Oban, on September 24.

Procurator fiscal Eoin McGinty told Oban Sheriff Court on Tuesday that the taxi driver, returning to her vehicle, found Watson and her daughter in the back.

He said: ‘Her daughter was heavily intoxicated. The driver asked where they wanted to go. The accused said, “Glasgow”. She [the driver] asked for the money up front.’

The accused, he said, ‘became aggressive and refused to leave. The daughter was still asleep in the footwell.’ The driver called the police. ‘The accused remained abusive [and] attempted to lunge at the driver,’ he said. ‘She then turned on the police, shouting, “I will f****** do you”. She was then arrested. She lashed out at police, kicking an officer. She then spat at the sergeant. Thankfully, the spit missed him.’

Defending, Kevin McGinness said Watson was ‘mortified’.

Sheriff Ruth Anderson said: ‘You should be mortified by your violent drunken behaviour. This cannot continue.’

She imposed a structured deferred sentence until October 10.