Woman jailed for foul-mouthed abuse of police officers

Margaret Vennard also told a constable she would give him Hepatitis C after spitting over the police vehicle she was placed in.

She pleaded guilty to three charges in relation to the incident - which took place at Saltcoats train station on August 1 this year - during a hearing at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Tuesday, October 15.

The court heard that police attended the railway station, at the Glencairn Street platform, in relation to another matter where it was required that officers trace Vennard.

Procurator fiscal depute Alasdair Millar said the 39-year-old was found on the platform and was informed by two police officers that she was going to be searched.

However, this led to a struggle between Vennard and the PCs and at one stage she dug her nails into the arm of an officer, scratched him, and caused him to draw blood.

Vennard was then placed in handcuffs which sparked a furious tirade of foul-mouthed abuse aimed at police officers.

She called one a “specky b*****d” before branding the other a “p***y b*****d” and telling him to “get your hands off me you f*****g tramp”.

The fiscal depute added that the platform was busy with a number of pedestrians, including children, at the time who would have been able to hear all the language used.

Several police witnesses had asked Vennard, described as a prisoner at HMP Greenock, to stop being abusive and desist but she continued as she was taken to a police cell van to be transported the "short distance" to Saltcoats police station.

While within the van she "spat all over" the inside of the vehicle - and got aggressive with officers once again at the police office.

She said: "You are a f*****g g*****d p*****r. You’re a specky f*****g b*****d. I will knock the f*****g dial clean off any of you."

Vennard also told one officer she would spit on him and give him Hepatitis C.

This made the policeman, who had been in contact with spittle, concerned about infection and he attended Crosshouse Hospital afterwards.

Defence solicitor Glenn Davis stated that Vennard had told him she was not Hepatitis C positive.

He added: "She knows that her behaviour was inexcusable. There will be no alternative but a custodial sentence."

Mr Davis also provided further context to Vennard's behaviour on that day, stating that a confrontation took place in the town earlier in the day - and it was in relation to this that police were initially called.

He continued: "By the time they arrived she had sustained a quite significant injury to her wrist. A flesh wound of about three inches, she has a significant scar.

"At that point she was bleeding heavily from her wrist. When she was placed in handcuffs the application caused her significant pain. To her regret she reacted aggressively to police carrying out their practice and the matter deteriorated.

"Upon the short journey to the police station she just lost the plot completely. She was in tears, pain and distress and was trying to convey this to officers."

Mr Davis added that Vennard has been in custody since the day following the incident and now appears to be "significantly healthier, clear headed and clear sighted".

Sheriff Murdoch Mactaggart noted that the "disgraceful behaviour" took place only days after she was released early from custody for a similar offence.

As a result, he ordered her to complete the 241 days which were remaining of her prior sentence, and an additional four months thereafter. The sentence came into effect on October 15.