'Dafties': Drunken Falkirk offender hurls abuse at police after fall in street

Intoxicated James Wilson, 60, called officers “dafties” and challenged them to fight when they tried to assist him, later saying he thought he was being arrested.

Wilson appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday having pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour – challenging police officers to fight – in Newmarket Street, Falkirk, on May 1.

The procurator fiscal depute said: “It was 1am and police were called out to Newmarket Street of a man being aggressive to members of the public. CCTV was checked and showed him lying on the pavement.

"He refused to attend Forth Valley Royal Hospital and it was clear he was intoxicated. He then became abusive towards police officers, repeatedly challenging one of them to fight and swearing at them.

“He was handcuffed for the safety of everyone around him and called police ‘dafties’, saying ‘you’re dumb, I’m doing you’.”

Wilson later fell asleep in the ambulance.

There was a mistaken belief that Wilson had suffered some kind of overdose on the day in question.

Stephen Biggam, defence solicitor, said: “He wasn’t having an overdose. He was intoxicated and he had fallen and hit his head. When he was handcuffed he was going to be arrested and taken away to the police station.

"That was why he behaved the way he did.”

Mr Biggam added it had taken him until the age of 60 to gain some “insight” into his drinking alcohol and what it does to him.

"He’s moved away from Glasgow and Edinburgh where he had been having difficulties,” said Mr Biggam. “He tells me he wants help with his alcohol problems.”

Addressing Wilson, Flat 13/6 Belmont Tower, Eastburn Drive, Falkirk, Sheriff Craig Harris said: “Given your previous convictions, you are fortunate you’re not being sentenced to prison her today.”

He placed him on a supervised community payback order for 12 months with the condition he complete 135 hours unpaid work in that time. He called for a review of the order on January 14 next year.