Yob who is named after ‘Gers star in police station assault

Dec 16 2010 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

A YOUTH named after Rangers legend Ally McCoist caused a disturbance outside Larkhall police station.

Alistair McCoist Gilfillan was spotted by officers hitting a police vehicle with a wooden pallet, and shouted abuse.

The 17-year-old also struggled with police officers afterwards.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court this week, Gilfillan, of Tweed Street, Larkhall, pleaded guilty to committing a breach of the peace by acting in a disorderly manner, shouting, swearing, and throwing the wooden pallet towards the vehicle and the police office in the early hours of October 26.

He also admitted charges of assaulting police constables Tracey Allan and James Livingstone by kicking both on the leg outside the office on that day.

However, fiscal depute Brent Bisset accepted Gilfillan’s not guilty plea to struggling with constables Allan and Livingstone violently in an attempt to resist lawful arrest. His not guilty plea to a further charge of assaulting PC Livingstone and spitting at him was also accepted by the Crown.

Mr Bisset told the court a police witness had been working at the charge bar area of Larkhall Police Office, when she heard a disturbance outside.

She spotted Gilfillan shouting obscenities and throwing the wooden pallet at a police vehicle, said the fiscal depute.

The witness immediately contacted the police control room.

Constables Allan and Livingstone both attended the scene of the incident, said Mr Bisset, and traced the accused nearby.

“The officers attempted to speak to the accused,” he told the court, “but he acted in an aggressive manner towards them, and they had to take him to the ground to restrain him.

“As they did so, the accused struggled with the officers, kicking out with his legs and striking both constables on their legs.”

He added there were no details of injuries received as a result of the assault, and due to the accused’s aggressive nature at the time, he was not cautioned and charged at this point.

After hearing evidence, Gilfillan’s defence solicitor admitted this incident was “not his first interaction with the police.”

At court on Tuesday, Sheriff David Bicket deferred sentence on the accused until January 12, calling for a social inquiry report, a restriction of liberty assessment, and a community service assessment. Bail was granted.