A drunken Fife man who climbed into a police car while clutching a takeaway and then pressed the horn told irritated cops they “couldn’t take a joke”.
Henry Mullen entered the marked vehicle as officers were responding to reports of someone suffering a mental health crisis in Dunfermline.
He later threatened to kill the officers after they moved him on from a nearby pub.
After the officers arrested him, the 38-year-old, who was still causing problems in Dunfermline’s High Street, lashed out, kicking one and spitting in the face of the other.
Entered squad car with takeaway
Fiscal depute Alistair McDermid told Dunfermline Sheriff Court police were a short distance from their car when Mullen started becoming a nuisance.
He said: “At 7.05pm police constables Gieldon-Bruce and Kinnell went to the junction of Bridge Street and the High Street in relation to a mental health incident, which did not involve the accused.
“In order to ascertain the exact location of the call they briefly left their marked police car and walked along Bridge Street to get a better view of the building numbers.
“They both heard the horn of their car sounding and saw the accused crawling out of the nearside passenger seat of the vehicle.
“The approached the accused, who was visibly intoxicated, slurring his words and holding a bag of takeaway food.
“PC Gieldon-Bruce challenged the accused regarding his conduct and told him to leave the area so that they could attend their original call.
“The accused replied that PC Gieldon-Bruce ‘can’t take a joke’ and ‘there’s a reason why you’re all hated’.”
Arrested for further offences
Mr McDermid said a short time later Mullen was seen causing issues outside Tappie Toories pub and the officers arrested him, while others took over their original call.
As they walked him to the police car he lashed out, kicking Mr Kinnell and spitting at Mr Gieldon-Bruce, hitting him in the temple, eye and cheek.
At Dunfermline police station Mullen calmed down and apologised to the officers, stating he “had had too much to drink”.
Mullen, of Blamey Crescent, Cowdenbeath, admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner on Dunfermline’s Bridge Street and High Street on various occasions of June 15.
He further admitted assaulting one police officer by kicking him on the leg and another by spitting in his eye and cheek.
Sentence was deferred for reports.
