A vile thug sunk his teeth into two police officers and spat blood on another as they arrested him for attacking a Scotmid worker.
Ryan Gillies was tackled by several constables outside the Midlothian store after he became violent.
The 25-year-old set upon officers after the shop supervisor called 999 to report Gillies had headbutted him.
Gillies appeared from custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday and admitted five assaults.
He pled guilty to a later attack on a “petrified” man riding a scooter in Haddington, East Lothian, spitting in his face and punching him to the head.
Fiscal depute Anna Chisholm said Gillies attacked Scotmid duty supervisor Christopher Noel after being told he was barred from the store.
Ms Chisholm said Gillies lunged to headbutt Christopher, but “fortunately” the blow didn’t cause injury.
Police were called to the branch in Hunterfield, Gorebridge, and officers found Gillies outside following the 8.30pm incident.
Upon being told he was getting arrested, Gillies replied to cops ‘No, I’m f***ing not’, and began a struggle.
The court heard Gillies struck Pc Ian Worrall in the face, causing his earpiece to be ripped out, and the accused was “taken to the ground”.
Ms Chisholm said: “The accused repeatedly stuck out his tongue and was observed to have blood in and around his mouth and teeth.”
She said Gillies bit Pc John Fortune on the forearm, leaving a trail of blood and saliva but not breaking the skin.
Gillies then spat blood on the arm of Pc Stephanie Begg and bit Pc Worrall, the prosecutor added.
Ms Chisholm said “more officers were called to attend” before Gillies was moved to a police vehicle following the incident on November 17 2020.
At around 11.30pm on June 26 last year, the court heard a group of youths in Haddington’s High Street were verbally abusing John Dingwall who was travelling on a scooter.
Ms Chisholm said Gillies joined in, becoming “aggressive” towards the “petrified” victim who said he “just wanted to go home”.
Gillies delivered a “tirade of abuse”, she said, and struck him on the head.
The court heard Gillies spat in John’s face and told him: ‘I hope I do have Covid for you.’
Police officers on patrol spotted the incident and made to detain Gillies.
Gillies headbutted Pc Eric Dickson twice and injured the shin of Pc Stuart Nicolson before being subdued.
Defence agent Angela Craig said her client, who was currently in Edinburgh’s Saughton Prison, was working to tackle a “significant and long-standing alcohol problem”.
Ms Craig acknowledged her client recently served a six-month jail term in Bullingdon Prison, Oxfordshire, for police assault.
Sheriff Norman McFadyen deferred sentence until next month for reports.
