Anger at prison sentence led man to assault security officers

A man was so upset at being handed a prison sentence at Stirling Sheriff Court that he assaulted two security officers in a corridor.

After getting four and a half months for stealing a motorbike and for giving false details to police, Kevin Michael Barr was led to the cells screaming “that is too much time. I haven’t got that time to waste. I’ll never get that time back in my life.”

And this week he reappeared to admit two charges of assaulting G4S officers Arlene Bennett and Aaron David Berwick.

Fiscal depute Emma Jeffrey told the court that Barr had been sentenced and was taken into the corridor at the back of court four when he ‘began gathering spit in his throat’.

She said: “He started spitting into his hand and said ‘Who is getting this?’ and attempted to smear it in witness Berwick’s face.

“He began to struggle with officers as they attempted to remove his handcuffs. He was restrained and taken to a cell, where he was cautioned and charged.”

Barr had been jailed last September, after the court heard that the 26-yearold had not only stolen a motorcycle and driven it without insurance, but gave police his brother’s name and details when caught.

His actions meant that his brother was later arrested - and it took officers some time to realise they had the wrong man.

On his appearance in court last September, Barr admitted stealing a vehicle at Springkerse Business Park between January 24 and 26, 2015, using it without insurance at Redwell Place, Alloa, and elsewhere, and evading detection by stating he was John Barr on January 27.

Sheriff Gilchrist told him at the time: “You have accrued something like 20 previous convictions. It’s a fairly mixed bag of dishonesty, antisocial behaviour and the like.”

He sentenced him to fourand-a-half months in prison for the theft of the bike, and for giving false details. He admonished him for driving without insurance, but disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

And it was while he was being led away that Barr reacted badly and a scuffle broke out with G4S security officers.

This week the court heard that Barr, of Pine Grove, Alloa, had been assaulted in prison before his last jail sentence, and had reacted out of fear. His defence solicitor also stated that Barr’s mental health was being assessed.

Sheriff William Gilchrist told him: “You have spent a considerable amount of time in custody, and you have now been at liberty for a few months. You have stayed out of trouble in that time.”

He issued a restriction of liberty order for Barr to remain within his home address between 8pm and 7am for three months.