Cuffed teen spat at cops

A teenager who spat in the faces of two police officers after they restrained him at an address in Perth has been warned how seriously sheriffs view the offence.

Perth Sheriff Court heard last Thursday Cameron Alexander Mullen spat at the officers after they had to put him in handcuffs and place him face down on the ground during a disturbance in a common close at 117-131 Nimmo Avenue.

Fiscal depute Gavin Letford said members of the public contacted police at around 12.15pm on the afternoon of November 21, 2020 to report a disturbance at the location.

He said when they arrived they observed Mullen shouting and swearing and believed him to be under the influence of either drink or drugs.

Mr Letford said the officers tried to calm him down verbally but their efforts were unsuccessful and when they moved to try and arrest him he began struggling with them.

He said they managed to place Mullen in cuffs and put him face down on the ground but he then began complaining he was having difficulty breathing.

Mr Letford said the officers decided to turn him over onto his back to help him breath and it was at that moment Mullen spat at them.

“He has turned his head and spat at them, striking both constables,” he said.

Mr Letford added the 18-year-old, of Nimmo Avenue, Perth, later apologised to the two officers for spitting at them after he had been cautioned and charged.

Sheriff George Way called for a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty assessment to prepared on Mullen after hearing the fiscal depute’s narrative.

He warned Mullen: “You are a young man. Spitting at police is the kind of offence that can easily get you the jail.”

He put off sentencing Mullen until April 20 to give official time to complete their reports and allow a resident sheriff to determine his fate.