A man who swallowed drugs to avoid being found in possession of illegal substances – then assaulted a police officer at Ninewells Hospital – has been sent to jail.
Andrew Cox, 39, was sentenced to seven months in prison after he appeared from custody at Dundee Sheriff Court and admitted two charges.
The court heard that police had gone to Cox’s flat at a Hilltown multi-storey block with a drugs warrant and told him he was to be searched.
Cox then swallowed a quantity of tablets in order to avoid detection and officers arrested him.
They were concerned for his welfare and he was taken to Ninewells Hospital, where he then assaulted PC Elliott Melville by repeatedly kicking him on the body and injuring him.
Solicitor Kevin Hampton, defending, said Cox accepted that his behaviour would have been upsetting to people at the accident and emergency department of the hospital.
Cox admitted that on August 2, at Bonnethill Court, with the intention of obstructing PCs Fraser Mitchell and Iain McPherson, he swallowed tablets suspected to be controlled drugs during a lawful search using a warrant, while on bail.
He further admitted that on the same date, at the accident and emergency department at Ninewells Hospital, he assaulted PC Melville, to his injury, also while on bail.
Sheriff John Rafferty told Cox: “You swallowed drugs when police officers arrived at your home, you refused to co-operate with them.
“At Ninewells Hospital you didn’t just kick a police officer once you aimed further kicks at the officer who was just doing his duty.
“The police have to be protected against such attacks and in this case the only appropriate sentence is a custodial one.”
He jailed Cox for a total of seven months, one month for the first charge and six months for the assault on the officer.
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