Thug punched police officer in the face

Police had to use an incapacitant spray to subdue and handcuff a man who had just attacked a female officer, punching her on the face.

PC Kathryn Knox requested immediate back-up after she was struck by Mark McCole who appeared to be under the influence of drink or drugs.

Earlier attempts to get him under control seemed to make no impression, with the accused taunting officers, saying: “You’ll have to do more than that.”

But McCole was finally restrained on the ground before an ambulance was called to treat him - and the police officer.

The 33-year-old, of Glenshee Drive, Blairgowrie, was told at Perth Sheriff Court that he was “standing at the door of a custodial sentence.”

But Sheriff Gillian Wade decided to impose a community payback order instead to give him help to address his offending behaviour.

He will be supervised and will have to undergo alcohol and drug treatment, if considered appropriate, after he admitted assaulting PC Knox in Station Road, Errol, on May 1, 2020.

In addition, he will be tagged and a Restriction of Liberty order will confine him to his home from 7pm-7am for the next eight months.

Not guilty pleas were accepted to further charges of struggling violently with four officers and assaulting PC Jordan Lamb by throwing a set of handcuffs at him, striking him on the body.

The court was told that McCole had been at his mother’s home in Errol.

Depute fiscal Bill Kermode said she suspected he had been drinking and he left the house about 8pm.

When he returned about half-anhour to an hour later he was “presenting differently.”

The fiscal added: “He was slurring his words and appeared unsettled.

“He became aggressive to his mother and, as a result of his behaviour, the police were contacted.”

They traced him outside about 1.40am and he appeared to be concealing his right hand behind his back.

It turned out he had a black cloth wrapped around his wrist, which was bleeding.

When he was told he was being arrested, he protested and then lashed out at the police officer.

“She requested further assistance to attend immediately,” added the fiscal.

“PC Knox was checked over by the paramedics and suffered reddening to her cheek.”

Solicitor Paul Ralph said: “There was a pattern of behaviour that night.

“He had been drinking and wasn’t thinking clearly.”

Sheriff Wade told the accused that when he consumed alcohol or drugs his “behaviour deteriorated.”

She added: “This was an assault on a police officer who was doing her best to assist you when you were injured - and she ended up with a punch on the face.”

But it was important he get help - and she imposed the community-based disposals as an alternative to custody.