Covid claim woman spat in police van 33-year-old arrested over threatening behaviour
A Dunblane woman told police she had Covid and spat at a glass screen separating her from officers while being transported to a police station in a marked van.
Leesa-Marie Myles, of Charles Street, had admitted a charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner at an address in Edward Place in the town on January 26 this year – and en route to St Leonards Police Office in Edinburgh.
The 33-year-old had stated to officers that she had Covid symptoms, shouted and swore, uttered offensive remarks, and spat within the van.
Fiscal depute Ann Orr told Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday that police received a “dropped” 999 call at 7.30pm on January 25 this year and officers attended at an address at Edward Place in Dunblane.
When they knocked on the door it was answered by the accused.
They explained why they were there. Myles was extremely agitated and reluctant to allow police officers inside.
The officers told her they were trying to ensure the safety of everyone inside and she did allow them entry.
However, Myles began shouting and swearing and told the officers to “get f ****** out” and blocked their way.
The officers asked her to calm down but she continued in the same way and, in the course of that behaviour, pushed one of the officers, Ms Orr added.
Myles was arrested and made no reply to caution and charge.
However, while she was being taken to St Leonard’s Police Office in Edinburgh in a marked van she stated that she had Covid symptoms and shouted and swore at the officers.
She also spat at the glass screen separating her from the officers.
Her agent told Sheriff Keith O’Mahony that his client, whom he had acted for for a number of years, had a “fairly long-term drug problem” which was “fairly self-evident” from her previous convictions.
However, she was on a prescription for the drug addiction with the agent pointing out that currently “this is the best I have seen her for a number of years.”
Myles was “not quite round the corner” but had found four-weekly injections beneficial.
She was also seeing a lot more of her daughter which had “not always been the case”.
Sheriff O’Mahony sentenced Myles to a community payback order as an alternative to custody comprising 12 months’ supervision - and warned her if she breached the order she faced a prison term.