A man spat blood at police while claiming to have hepatitis then asked officers how they would “like to die”.
Police were called to help eject Samuel Bliss from an Elgin pub, but after he suffered a cut lip during his arrest he began to spit blood, claiming to have the infectious disease.
Bliss, 28, appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court to admit three counts of assaulting an officer and one of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
Fiscal depute Martina Eastwood told the court that the incident began at around 1.10am on April 17 of this year.
She said two officers were called to help eject Bliss, of Victoria Crescent, Elgin, from the Badenoch Bar on the town’s High Street.
Man punched officer in face
“The accused was initially compliant however returned a short time later. He was stopped by constables and requested to leave, at this time he became aggressive and obstructive,” she said.
Bliss then punched one of the officers in the face and was struck and restrained to the ground but cut his lip in the process.
When the officers attempted to place him in handcuffs he began to spit blood at them, which landed on both of their heads and one of their bodies.
He was then placed in a police van, where he continued to spit, before being taken to Dr Gray’s Hospital, where he refused treatment.
“He repeatedly stated that this had hepatitis and threatened to spit at anyone who opened the police van,” Ms Eastwood said.
Spit covered officer’s clothing
The police then attempted to take him to the police station but had to stop the van en route, due to Bliss’s suspicious behaviour.
When an officer opened the van door the accused turned his head towards him and it was suspected he was intending to spit, so officers began to restrain him and apply a spit hood.
Ms Eastwood said: “At this time the accused began resisting and began spitting blood at the officer covering his high vis vest and trousers in blood.”
When officers attempted to book him into custody he made threats to kill them, and asked them: “How would you like to die?”
Sheriff Sara Matheson called for pre-sentencing reports. The case will call again next month.
