Drunk man lashed out at police

A FORFAR man repaid police for the offer of a lift home with a torrent of abuse towards them and a self-inflicted injury, which ended up with a trip to hospital and the cells instead.

Officers had seen Eric Rice in a “highly intoxicated state” outside the Royal nightclub in the centre of Forfar just before 2.30am on December 9 last year.

The town’s sheriff court heard 29-year-old Rice, of Thornton Place, was shouting and swearing in the street and was offered a lift home in an effort to defuse the situation.

Depute fiscal Laura M c G i l lv e r y s a i d the accused and his partner accepted the offer from police, but shortly after starting the journey home he became aggressive and repeatedly swore at officers.

Police called for assistance from other units and Rice was put in the back of a police vehicle to be taken to Dundee police headquarters, but before they made it out of Forfar he lost consciousness and an ambulance had to be called.

“He came round and was put back into the police vehicle but began to lash out, causing a minor laceration to his own head,” the fiscal added.

Rice, who admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, was taken to Ninewells Hospital where he sobered up during several hours there.

“He then apologised for his actions and intimated he could not remember anything that occurred,” said Ms McGillvery.

Defence solicitor Theo Findlay told the court: “This was a brief but significant relapse into alcohol abuse.”

Sheriff Jillian MartinBrown deferred sentence until November 27 for Rice to be of good behaviour. A DUNDEE-based solicitor and estate agent has presented Macmillan Cancer Support with £6,000 after a year of fundraising.

RSB Lindsays selected Macmillan as their first charity of the year in 2018 and have taken part in a number of activities to raise money.

The businesses held “Dress Down Fridays” and tuck shops, as well as receiving a number of generous donations from clients.

Madeleine Gillan, fundraising manager for Macmillan, praised the efforts of all the staff.

“We are so grateful RSB Lindsays selected us A WOMAN from Dundee is heading back to her home city after learning that a family headstone was one of those damaged by a car crashing into a graveyard last week.

Gillian Foy will inspect the grave of her mother, father and gran after it was involved in the freak accident at Balgay Cemetery on Sunday.

The driver of a red Hyundai lost control and the car came to rest on top of several gravestones, which were badly damaged.

It is understood the crash was due to a mechanical problem with the automatic car.

There were no injuries and no one was arrested or charged, with Police Scotland taking no further action.

But the accident has left relatives of the deceased stunned.

Gillian’s mum Teresa Foy, dad Sidney Jackson and gran Mary Ellen Stewart are all buried at the plot.

Gillian said: “This has been devastating for me. I have lived in