Invergordon thug pulled out clumps of police officer’s hair before being tasered

A 22-year-old Easter Ross man who savagely attacked a police constable and pulled out clumps of her hair escaped a prison sentence because he had completed all outstanding hours of unpaid work imposed as part of a current community payback order.

Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald previously deferred sentence on Shane Williamson of Reid Road, Invergordon, to allow him time to carry out her instruction to reduce his hours and his defence solicitor David Patterson told her that his client had done them all.

The sheriff then ordered him to carry out another 250 hours and remain under social work supervision for three years. He was also told he must complete an Offender's Awareness programme.

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She said of the three offences Williamson had admitted - assault to severe injury, assault and threatening behaviour: "It was an act of significant violence. But I can take account of the fact you are still on a community payback order, you have completed your hour, stayed out of trouble and you have a job.

"I could easily send you to jail for this. However this is your chance."

At an earlier hearing, Inverness Sheriff Court heard that officers went to Williamson's property on November 24 last year following a report of a disturbance.

Fiscal depute Susan Love told Sheriff Macdonald that Williamson was shouting and swearing, making threats of violence and screamed to the police constables: "I hope your children die."

As one officer tried to handcuff him, she failed to get both wrists and Williamson lashed out at her, punching her on the mouth.

He repeatedly punched her on the head, kicked her on the body causing her head to strike a door frame.

Ms Love said: "Her colleague assessed the only way to stop him was via taser. He took an aimed shot at the accused. The initial shot did strike him but it was ineffective.

"He then grabbed her hair, dragged her to the ground and repeatedly struck her face with the handcuffs. A further shot was taken and was effective in stopping him."

The court heard that Williamson still managed to punch the officer again in the face and pulled a clump of her hair out of her head before trying to bite her on her head. A third taser shot was required before the handcuffs were applied but Williamson continued to shout and swear and spit at the constables.

The female constable was once more the target as Williamson managed to bite her on the hand as she placed a spit hood over his head. A subsequent CT scan showed that as well as being battered, bruised and bleeding, she sustained a concussion in the attack.

Ms Love said more police arrived and as Williamson was being taken downstairs to be placed in a van, he kicked an officer on the back in an attempt to make him fall down the stairs. But he managed to grab a bannister to prevent this from happening, Sheriff Macdonald was told.