A Dundee man who stabbed a police officer avoided jail despite being told he could have been sent to jail for more than five years.
Jamie Morrison, 27, stabbed PC Scott Kidd in the hand as the officer tried to defend himself when Morrison charged at him and two other officers while holding an eight-inch kitchen knife above his head.
PC Kidd tried to use CS spray on Morrison in a bid to stop him and raised his hand to cover his head from the impending attack.
Morrison, who had moments earlier told the officers he was “going to kill them”, then “deliberately struck” the officer with the blade.
Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson previously told the court: “A call was made to police to report the disturbance and three officers attended.
“At this point the accused was seen in the close in possession of a kitchen knife. Officers attended and he was seen on the landing holding a knife.
“He shouted ‘Come on you p*****, I’m going to kill you’ at the police.
“Police officers reacted by drawing their batons and PC Kidd drew a CS spray and told him to drop the knife. Morrison refused and ran towards PC Kidd holding the knife aloft.
“CS spray was deployed and PC Kidd raised his right arm to protect his face.
“The accused then deliberately struck the officer on the hand with the knife,” she said.
Sheriff Brown ordered Morrison to complete 200 hours of unpaid work for the crime, as well as pay £500 in compensation to PC Kidd.
But he warned the sentence could have been much graver.
He told Dundee Sheriff Court: “Certainly, someone who attacks a police officer with an eight-inch knife would face a sentence of five years the maximum I can award or might even find their case referred to the High Court.”
However, he said that he had been persuaded to not send him to jail because of the arguments made regarding his mental health.
Morrison, of Balmullo Place, had originally been charged with attempted murder when he first appeared in court last year.
He later pleaded guilty to a charge of assault to injury.