KNIFE THUG IN CHURCH ATTACK

Man fought with cops the day he was freed from prison

A knife-wielding thug who took on four baton-wielding cops after breaking into an East Kilbride church the day he was released from prison is back behind bars.

All hell broke loose when 44-year-old Colin Smith, a prisoner, forced his way into West Kirk Parish Church looking for somewhere to sleep.

Armed with a blade and a metal pole, he swung at one of the officers, hitting him on the arm, and raised a lock knife at police. After putting up a fight, he was eventually handcuffed and subdued with straps.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court, Smith admitted damaging the church door, having a knife in public, assaulting the cops, shouting abuse and aiming sectarian insults at a female officer.

Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen jailed dad-of-five Smith for 18 months, telling him: “This is a depressing picture of a life being wasted.”

All hell broke loose in an East Kilbride church when a newly-freed prisoner armed with a knife and a pole took on four baton-wielding cops.

Colin Smith might have been “seriously outnumbered” – but he put up quite a fight before the officers managed to subdue him.

The peace of the church was shattered shortly before 6pm on April 5, Hamilton Sheriff Court heard.

A commuter on his way home spotted Smith punching and kicking a glass door panel at West Kirk Parish Church.

Smith, who later claimed he was homeless and was looking for somewhere to sleep, eventually forced his way in, but by this time the cops had been alerted and were on their way.

Vish Kathuria, prosecuting, told the court: “Four officers arrived, saw the smashed door and went in.

“They heard banging and saw the accused inside a large cupboard with a large metal pole in his right hand.

“He was asked by the officers to drop it, but he refused and they drew their batons. He was asked again to drop the pole but responded by swinging it at one of the officers and striking him on the arm.

“This officer then hit the accused three times on the leg with his baton which caused him to drop the pole. One of two female officers present grabbed Smith’s arm, but he took a small lock knife from his jacket pocket with his other hand and raised the blade as if he intended to assault the officers.

“One officer grabbed his legs and a colleague delivered three more strikes with her baton, causing Smith to drop the knife.

“He was placed in the prone position on the floor, but continued to struggle until handcuffs and fast straps were applied.”

Smith, 44, a prisoner, admitted damaging the church door, having a knife in public, assaulting the four cops, shouting abuse and aiming sectarian insults at one of the female officers.

Defending agent Ian Scott said Smith had been freed from prison that very day, adding: “He went to a homeless complex but was turned away and so went to the church across the road. He was simply looking for a place to sleep that night.

“My client hasn’t coped well with life outside prison. Unfortunately, his relationship with his partner broke down and he has been unsettled since.”

Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen jailed dad-offive Smith for 18 months, telling him: “This is a depressing picture of a life being wasted.

“It’s up to you to address the problems that lead to you behaving in this way, otherwise it will be the same thing over and over again.

“You have a history of carrying or using weapons and here you are assaulting police officers with a metal pole and a knife. You could have recognised the inevitable – that you were seriously outnumbered – but chose to commit this serious offence.”