A sectarian thug who spat at three police officers while claiming to have Covid-19 and threatened to “dig up and rape” one constable’s dead grandmother, has been jailed.
Steven Gow became furious when police approached him after he crashed into a wall near Auchterarder, causing hundreds of pounds of damage.
Gow, who has a history of public disorder and violence, later threatened to murder police officers and bit one on the hand.
He shouted anti-Catholic slogans, before singing verses of banned loyalist anthem Billy Boys.
The 26-year-old previously pled guilty to eight charges, including careless driving and three police assaults.
Crash
At a previous hearing, Fiscal depute Michael Sweeney said the series of events began in the morning of August 12, last year.
“At around 9.25am, a witness observed the accused crash his Audi motor vehicle into a stone wall on the A824 heading towards Auchterarder.
“He described the car as flying through the air, striking a wall then bouncing back onto its four wheels again.
“The accused was seen exiting the vehicle and picking up damaged parts, before getting back in and driving off.”
The damage caused to the wall was thought to be between £600 and £800.
Police were contacted and one witness pursued Gow, while updating officers about his location.
Constables Robert Southern, Alistair Bloomer and Victoria Taylor made their way to Airth Park, where Gow’s car was last seen.
“PC Bloomer took hold of him and told him they suspected him of driving while under the influence,” Mr Sweeney said.
“The accused began to pull away and was then put onto the floor.
“Attempts were made to place handcuffs on him.
“The accused kicked out as he was on the ground, connecting his kicks with PC Taylor’s upper body (and) PC Southern’s right hand and face.
“He was placed in leg straps. At this point, he spat towards officers shouting: ‘I have Covid’.
“He continued to spit and had to be turned over to stop him spitting at the officers.”
‘Dig up and rape officer’s grandmother’
Gow was asked to provide a breath sample for analysis but responded with a tirade of horrific abuse.
Mr Sweeney told Perth Sheriff Court: “The accused made further threats towards officers but in particular, he told one officer that he would kill and rape the officer’s dead grandmother.
“He went on to say he would dig the constable’s grandmother up and rape her.”
Gow was taken to Ninewells Hospital to check for injuries following the crash.
After treatment, he kicked PC Bloomer and threatened to murder him in a “square go”.
At Police HQ in Dundee, Gow spat in the officer’s face.
He also spat into the eye of police constable Danielle McGinley.
Sectarianism
In a second incident in the early hours of September 21, police received two 999 calls from Gow, claiming he had been assaulted in Strathtay Road, Perth and that someone had a knife.
Mr Sweeney said: “The accused was loitering near the officers, with both his hands concealed within his trouser waistband.”
Police approached the accused and told him he would be subject to a search.
“He immediately became verbally abusive and loud.
“He was secured with handcuffs and he began shouting to local residents to come out and assist him.”
He threatened to find out where the officers lived and slit their throats.
“He made various racial remarks and described the constables as Fenian b******s.
“He shouted ‘f*** the Pope’ and then loudly sang the song Billy Boys.
“He was told to desist from his conduct but this only made his behaviour worse.”
Later in custody, Gow was placed on the ground after spitting on PC Macdonald.
From the floor, he lunged forward and bit the officer on the left hand.
‘A lot has changed’
Solicitor David Holmes said: “A lot of things have changed for Mr Gow since his appalling behaviour.
“He does acknowledge that his actions were completely unacceptable.
“But since that time, he has done his best to address his problems.
“However, he does accept that he must be punished.”
Sheriff William Wood told Gow: “I have listened to all this with some disquiet.”
Gow, of Colonsay Street, Perth, was jailed for 21 months and disqualified from driving.
