A Dundee man was arrested by police after striking a man who had been “staring at his girlfriend” at a party, a court has heard.
When officers attended the party in Weavers Close in Arbroath on May 22 to arrest Peter Whyte, his girlfriend Stevie Devlin started shouting and swearing at police.
It took five officers to bring 28-year-old Devlin under control as she struggled violently and lashed out with her arms and legs.
The couple, both of Gardner Street, Dundee, admitted the offences before Sheriff Pino Di Emidio at Forfar Sheriff Court.
Depute fiscal John Adams said: “The two accused are partners (and) at around 10.45pm were attending a party where everyone was consuming alcohol.
“An argument broke out between Whyte and another man. Whyte said he was staring at his girlfriend and struck him on the left hand side of his face.
“It was described as a cross between a strike and a push. The man wasn’t injured by this. Police were then contacted.
“At 11.25pm, the accused Whyte was arrested and Devlin started shouting and swearing.
“She was told to desist and said ‘I’ll swear at whoever I want’.
“Officers decided to take her into custody. She started lashing out with her arms in an effort to break away and fell to the ground.
“When the officers tried to apply handcuffs she put her arms into her body and lashed out with her legs.”
Defence agent Brian Bell said “far too much” alcohol had been consumed by the couple.
He said: “They have little recollection of the incident. Looking at their records it would appear to be behaviour they don’t normally engage in.
“Both are unemployed and in receipt of benefits and would be in a position to pay a financial penalty.”
Sheriff Di Emidio fined 30-year-old Whyte £150, reduced from £200 because of his early plea.
He sentenced Devlin to 60 hours of unpaid work.
He told her: “This behaviour in relation to police officers has to be taken seriously. It can’t be accepted.
“Having found yourself in a situation where your partner was being arrested, you made things a lot worse by your behaviour.”
The sheriff added that the unpaid work had to be completed with six months.