An award-winning charity worker from Perthshire, based In Ukraine, bit a police officer while drunk.
Martha Aitken, 31, from Abernethy, near Perth, bit down on PC Paul Buchanan’s right hand in Glasgow city centre on July 29 2020.
Officers were called to assist Aitken after members of the public found her asleep on a street.
She became abusive when she was assisted to her feet, before becoming violent.
Aitken – who helps people with disabilities in the conflict – had a warrant issued for her arrest relating to this case as she was in Ukraine.
She has now pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
Prosecutor Eilidh MacDonald said: “The police wanted to convey her to hospital as there was not an ambulance in attendance.
“In assisting her to her feet, Aitken bit PC Buchanan’s right hand, not breaking the skin.”
Thomas Gallagher, defending, told the court: “She resides in Ukraine and only came back for this case.
“She travelled to Glasgow and consumed alcohol then became intoxicated before being woken up by police before acting in the manner described.
“She regrets how she acted and knows that it is not acceptable.
“The reason she is in Ukraine is that she travelled to help people in the crisis and started a charity to help disabled Ukrainians.
“She obtained funding from various charities and has won awards for the work she has done.
Sheriff Mary Shields asked: “That’s the reason for three years she wasn’t in country and warrants were granted?”
Mr Gallagher replied: “Yes, but there has been no further offending.
“She will return to Ukraine next week to continue her charity work.”
Sheriff Shields fined Aitken £300.
Puppy farmer’s unpaid work
A businessman who exposed dozens of animals to suffering in a filth-ridden puppy farm in rural Perthshire has been given an unpaid work order of just 90 hours. Conditions at Daanyaal Chowdhury’s dog security firm operation at Glenalmond were so appalling they posed a public health risk.
Not guilty
An Arbroath man who allegedly tried to stab a driver as he was preparing to move into permanent accommodation has been found never to have had a knife.
Robert McPhee was acquitted by jurors of a trio of assaults after a three day trial in Forfar.
McPhee was accused of throwing a punch into the window of a moving car at its driver and then attacking its passenger on April 14 last year
McPhee had claimed the driver had almost struck him as he crossed the road.
He told the trial he was on his way back to his temporary flat to start packing as he was going to be signing for his own tenancy less than two hours later.
CCTV from the temporary housing unit showed McPhee enter with his partner and son while motioning to his own lip.
The driver drove around to the complex and said McPhee swung a knife into his open driver window.
However jurors at Forfar Sheriff Court took only around half an hour to find that none of the assaults took place and 35-year-old McPhee was never in possession of an offensive weapon.
Domestic bully
A domestic bully who asked police to remove his wife from their home instead of his dangerous dog has been ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work. Devout Christian Jackson Caven was found guilty of subjecting his wife to a course of coercive and controlling behaviour for nearly two years.
Business boss busted
A Fife businessman was caught at the wheel of his high-powered sports car while more than four times the drink drive limit.
Daniel Waring, a director of Pinpoint Ltd in Methil, was arrested after concerns were reported by a member of the public.
Fiscal depute Amy Robertson told Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court: “At around 7.45 pm a witness was driving her white Ford Fiesta at the locus.
“The accused was driving an orange BMW M3 towards the locus eastbound.
“Matters not before the court had taken place and police officers were requested to attend.
“The witness had spoken to the accused following the incident and noticed his speech was slurred and he appeared to be intoxicated.
“A roadside breath test was carried out which the accused failed.”
Waring’s defence agent told the court he had been comforting a bereaved friend.
She said: “Regrettably drink was taken. He shows genuine remorse.
“He’s the director of a security firm and this will have an impact with regard to him attending his work.
“He will need other employees of his firm to transport him.”
Waring, 45, of Largo Road, Lundin Links, admitted driving with excess alcohol (89mic/22) on Stob Cross Road, Markinch on March 28 last year.
Pleas of not guilty to charges of careless driving and to possession of cocaine were accepted by the Crown.
Sheriff Robert More fined Waring £1000 and banned him for a year.
‘Weirdo-stalker’
A self-confessed “weirdo-stalker” admitted terrifying his former partner in a campaign of domestic abuse. Physics student Garry McVicar threatened to “rip out” the eyes of his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend, before leaving a series of unwanted Valentine’s Day gifts on her doorstep in Dundee.
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