Defendant splurted his blood at policeman

Scott Gibson pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to assaulting PC Donkin outside Berwick police station on March 20.

Berwick magistrates heard the defendant was making threats to self-harm so police officers went to speak to him outside the Church Street premises.

The defendant, formerly of Berwick but now living at Weetwood Avenue in Wooler, was homeless at the time and prosecutor Rebecca Laverick told magistrates he wanted somewhere to get warm.

The court heard the 26-year-old, who was drunk, was warned about his behaviour and told that he would be arrested if it continued.

The defendant said this would be good as he would get a room for the night but when police said this would not happen, he slit his wrist and squirted blood at the officer, splattering his face and clothes.

“It was a very unleasant incident,” said Ms Laverick.

In a separate offence, the defendant admitted charges of criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly on March 27.

Magistrates were told that police received a report of a smashed window at The Venue, a hairdressers on Bridge Street. The defendant was found nearby and denied any offence but became aggressive to officers so was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

He later told police that he had picked up a stone ornament nearby but tripped and the ornament smashed the window, causing nearly £600 damage.

The defendant also pleaded guilty to not paying a £70 taxi fare from Hawick to Berwick on February 2.

Ian O’Rourke, in defence, told the court that the defendant had a drink problem for which he was getting help. He had also recently secured a seasonal job with a marquee firm.

“He is making considerable progress in getting his life back on track,” he said.

Magistrates ordered the defendant to do 60 hours’ unpaid work, pay £200 compensation to PC Donkin, £598 to The Venue, £70 to the taxi driver and £10 to the owner of the stone ornament.