Drunken foul mouthed punter tried to punch female cop in Falkirk bookies brawl

It had been said frequent offender James Dornion (70) had calmed down in recent times but try telling that to the police officer he tried to punch when she came to deal with his drink-fuelled temper tantrum in the bookies.

Dornion appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Thursday having pled guilty to assault and behaving in a threatening manner in William Hill bookmakers, Grahams Road, Falkirk on August 15.

Procurator fiscal depute Eilidh Smith said: “It was 8.50pm and police officers were called to attend at William Hill bookmakers in Grahams Road. The accused was within and he was intoxicated, shouting about being cheated out of money.

“He was asked to calm down and refrain from this behaviour, to which he swore at police officers, calling them ‘cows’ and saying ‘I will spit on you’. The accused was informed he was being arrested at that time and the officers tried to put handcuffs on him.

“The accused attempted to strike a female police officer to the face and continued his verbal abuse of the officers.”

Simon Hutchison, defence solicitor, said Dornion had been one of his “best clients” over the years, but he had not had contact with him recently because he had managed to stay out of trouble.

“He still occasionally drinks,” said Mr Hutchison. “But this is the first offence he has been involved in for some time. I’m just hoping this is a bump on the road to a proper recovery.

“He is the eldest of six brothers, all of whom have come to the attention of the courts at one time or another.”

Sheriff Derek Hamilton noted Dornion, as of 2013, had amassed an unenviable total of 200 convictions, but had no recent matters outstanding.

He placed Dornion, 31 Braemar Crescent, Falkirk, on a supervised community payback order for 12 months and a restriction of liberty order for two months, meaning he must remain in his home between the hours of 6pm and 6am during that period.