Conon Bridge man jailed for 12 months at Inverness Sheriff Court for threatening behaviour and police assault after spitting on officers and leaving one with an anxious 28-day wait to see if he had been infected with a disease

A POLICE officer had an anxious 28 day wait to discover if he had been infected with a disease after he was spat at by a Conon Bridge man.

The constable was with colleagues who had also been spat at by Robert McAllister after he was traced following an earlier disturbance on February 7, this year.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that 37 year old McAllister, described as an Inverness prisoner, had gone to his ex-partner's home, shouted and swore and challenged her new partner, Steven Clark, to fight.

Fiscal depute David Morton said that he also threatened to stab Mr Clark and an object, perhaps a knife, was seen by witnesses.

Police were informed and had been warned that McAllister may be in possession of a blade and he was traced walking towards Bridgeview in Conon Bridge.

Mr Morton added: "He was told to show his hands and was searched with no trace of any knife in his possession. He was advised he was under arrest and another unit had arrived to assist with the accused.

"He was cuffed and led to the rear of the police vehicle at which point he spat at one officer striking him in the mouth area, some of which entered his mouth. He then spat on another officer which struck her on the forehead. A spit-hood was placed on him due to the fact he continued to spit at officers.

"McAllister was then sick in the back of the vehicle and he was taken to A & E at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and was released after treatment." Mr Morton went on.

The prosecutor told Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald that one of the officers who had been spat at required an anti-hepatitis injection and medication for 28 days due to the unknown risks presented by McAllister's health. The other officer did not require any treatment.

McAllister admitted threatening behaviour and police assault and was jailed for 12 months, backdated to February 10. Sheriff Macdonald told McAllister: "These were particularly nasty, foul offences which caused distress to the officers."

His defence solicitor Graham Mann had told the court: "He was taking drink and drugs following the death of his father and there is no on-going threat to Mr Clark. He has no recollection of this as he was badly beaten prior to this incident and was disorientated."

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