A “vile” hospital cleaner who spat in a police officer’s eye and said he “could be riddled with all sorts” has narrowly avoided jail.
Aidan Bowie, 23, was taken to the A&E department of Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital on July 11 last year after a member of the public saw him drunkenly walking down the middle of the road towards oncoming traffic.
After refusing treatment at the hospital, out-of-control, Bowie, was arrested and spat in PC Laura Gardner’s eye.
Defence agent Anthony Boland told Paisley Sheriff Court yesterday that Bowie was “extremely remorseful of his behaviour” and that he understood the fact he works in a hospital “made this offence worse.”
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Sheriff Brian Mohan told the Queen Elizabeth Hospital cleaner he had met the “threshold for custody” after the High Court set out guidelines that spitting on police officers during the covid pandemic would merit jail time.
Prosecutor David McDonald previously told the court: “Shortly after midnight, PC Elliott was in the accident and emergency department of the Royal Alexandra Hospital due to an unrelated matter.
“PC Elliott was spoken to by a member of public who had taken the accused to the hospital as she had concerns for his welfare.
“The accused was heavily intoxicated and the member of the public had found him in the middle of the road walking towards incoming traffic.”
The court heard PC Elliott made several attempts to engage with out-of-control Bowie, as did several members of hospital staff.
Due to Bowie’s “deterioration” in behaviour, he was arrested and taken to a local police station.
Mr McDonald explained: “About 12.40am, while within the police vehicle, Mr Bowie spat on PC Gardner which made contact to her eye.
“He was informed he was under arrest and a spit hood was applied and he was taken to Greenock police station and processed.
“While being processed, Bowie was asked the usual care and welfare questions, and was asked if he had any infectious disease.
“Bowie replied, ‘probably’ and began laughing.
“He did not seem to care about this as he continued laughing.”
Officers asked selfish Bowie to desist and made him aware of the “gravity” of the question, give that he had spat at a police officer.
Mr McDonald added: “Bowie then replied, ‘Well I dunno, cause I’ve been pumping all sorts so I could be riddled with all sorts.’
“Mr Bowie was reminded of the severity of the matter and he stated, ‘I don’t know.’”
Mr Boland explained that Bowie, of Murray Place in Barrhead, was struggling mentally at the time of the incident due to the loss of a family member.
He added: “Two days prior to this incident, his uncle took his own life.
“He was not able to cope with that bereavement and he understands that’s no excuse.
“The comment at the police station would concern anyone, never mind the officer he spat on.
“But this was an isolated incident spurred on by what he was experiencing.
“He was a boy at the time who was in a period of crisis and didn’t deal with the bereavement in the manner that he should have but he fully accepts his responsibility.”
On sentencing, Sheriff Brian Mohan told Bowie: “This is your first time in court, and the explanation given by Mr Boland and the tragedy your family experienced might account for your reaction.
“There is no set way on how to deal with grief.
“However, you went a long way to spitting and unleashing the vile remarks that you did to police officers at a hospital during the time of a pandemic.
“But you have indicated an appropriate remorse.”
Sheriff Mohan ordered Bowie to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and made him subject to supervision of the social work department for 12 months.
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