Conon Bridge mum (27) ripped apart cell mattress and spat on police

A 27-year-old Ross-shire mother of two spat on several police officers after she was arrested at her home in Conon Bridge.

Michelle Stewart of Windsor Place appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court and admitted three charges of assault by spitting and one of ripping apart a £100 mattress in her cell at Burnett Road Police Station on December 26, 2023.

Fiscal depute Victoria Silver told Sheriff Ian Cruickshank that Stewart managed to slip her hand out of handcuffs as she was being placed in the back of a police van and spat on a sergeant.

A spit hood was applied but when she was being processed in Inverness she again spat repeatedly on officers and once more a spit hood had to be applied.

Her disruptive behaviour continued in the cell where she damaged the mattress she was supposed to sleep on.

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Defending, Sam Morrison explained to the Sheriff that her client had suffered a family bereavement at the time. "She was using drugs and alcohol to cope. She is very remorseful and has since sought help.

"She is in a much better place now."

Sheriff Cruickshank deferred sentence until April 10 for a background report to explore all sentencing options but warned Stewart: "Such truculent behaviour would ordinarily attract a custodial sentence."

Stewart had her bail continued.