Injured man assaults officers

An injured man seen staggering along a street assaulted three police officers who tried to help him.

Jay Mcneil, who had blood streaming from an arm wound, kicked a female officer on the groin and bit two of her colleagues.

Mcneil, 26, of Clyde Drive, Mossend, admitted three counts of police assault when he appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

The trouble started after PC Rhiannon Evans spotted him walking along Calder Road, Bellshill, at 7.20am on May 9 last year.

Jennifer Mccabe, prosecuting, said:“he was staggering on the pavement while holding his right arm which was covered in blood.

“The officer, who was alone, requested a further police unit and asked Mcneil if he was ok.

“He said he needed help, pointing to his arm, and she tried to ascertain what had happened.

“Then two more officers arrived and the accused became hostile. He pushed PC Evans with both hands and kicked her on the groin.

“She took him to the ground, but he shoved her off, got to his feet and bit PC James Anderson on the finger, breaking the skin.”

More officers arrived and Mcneil was handcuffed and taken to Wishaw General Hospital to be checked over.

But while in the back of the cell van he lunged at PC Martin Carrera, biting him on the nose and causing a small cut.

None of the officers required medical treatment.

The court heard that Mcneil has only one conviction and that was for a road traffic matter.

Sheriff Thomas Millar deferred sentence until next month for a criminal justice social work report and allowed him to remain on bail meantime.