Maryburgh man who racially abused and spat at police gets 'final chance' from Highland sheriff
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A ROSS-SHIRE man recklessly spat at a police officer and racially abused another shortly after being released from a two year prison sentence for a violent crime.
But 29-year-old Darren Kennedy escaped another jail sentence after his solicitor, Natalie Paterson, told Sheriff Gary Aitken: "The penny has dropped. He has taken steps to address the root cause of his offending to stay alcohol and drug free."
As an alternative to custody, Sheriff Aitken ordered Kennedy to carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work and remain under two years of social work supervision.
But he gave Kennedy of Seaforth Place, Maryburgh a stern warning that he would be jailed if he failed to comply with every aspect of the order.
The Sheriff told him: "Your last conviction got you two years' imprisonment. Very shortly after you were released, you got involved in more violent conduct.
"This is your final chance. I am told that the penny has dropped. You either sort out your life or you will spend the rest of your life in and out of jail."
Kennedy was appearing from custody for sentence after admitting threatening or abusive behaviour, racially aggravated conduct, assault and culpable and reckless conduct.
An earlier court heard that Kennedy had told a policeman “Go back to your country” then assaulted him before spitting in another officer’s face.
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Police had been called after Darren Kennedy, while he was visiting a friend in Fingal Road, Dingwall, tried to fight a neighbour who had asked him twice to keep the noise down on December 17, 2022.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir said the incident was captured on CCTV and police were called.
At 2.25am the following day officers attended and Kennedy was arrested and taken in a police vehicle to Burnett Road Police Station.
During the journey, Kennedy made a racial remark to one of the officers stating: “You are Polish, go back to your country.”
Kennedy also told the officer that “he did not wish to be held by him as he was Polish”.
He was then placed in a cell and he attempted to kick and bite an officer.
Kennedy then approached a second officer and shouted in such a way that spittle landed on the policeman’s face.
