Court told youngsters bit and threatened to kill officers

TWO YOUNG people who bit police officers and threatened to kill them have been handed supervision orders ‘as they require ongoing support’, a court heard.

Malcolm Watson and the young woman appeared in Fort William Sheriff Court on Tuesday ( February 28) in relation to incidents between Thursday January 19 and Sunday January 22.

Procurator Fiscal Robert Weir told the court that police had been called to Lochaber Road on January 19 to attend an incident where they found the woman in a highly agitated state.

Female officers tried to calm her down but she lashed out and bit one of them on the left wrist.

While being handcuffed, the 16-year- old tried to bite the other officer, breaking the skin and causing cuts which bled for 20 minutes after the incident.

The charges against Watson related to events on January 22. At 7.30pm police officers attended Lochaber Road again following reports of an incident and, again, the female made repeated attempts to bite them.

‘She claimed, although wrongly, she had a blade on her and threatened to kill the police officers,’ said Mr Weir.

The fiscal further explained Watson at this time was behaving erratically and was not complying with the ambulance service.

The court heard Watson shouted ‘ he would burn their houses, burn their children and throw acid in their eyes’ and that he also tried to bite the police officers.

Hamish Melrose explained to the court that in the first incident, Watson had been calm. In the second incident Watson was not initially involved but had a one-and-a-half inch cut to his forehead. When ambulance staff tried to treat his injury, coupled with attempts by police officers to arrest the woman, Watson became aggressive.

Mr Melrose said both de- fendants are ashamed of their actions and Watson had written letters of apology to the hospital and the police officers.

The solicitor said social work reports had shown the female to have a good work ethic but that background checks had shown support was still very much needed.

Watson has a previous conviction from an event four years ago.

Since these incidents, bail conditions had meant the young girl had moved back into the family home.

Mr Melrose explained that it had been suggested that close checks be kept on the two young people and support be made available.

The sheriff issued a community payback order with a supervision requirement for the female for two years.

Watson was handed a community payback order with a requirement to complete 150 hours of unpaid work in nine months.