A WEE COUNTY man who spat in a police officer's face has been jailed for more than a year.

Steven Ross, 32, was in a hospital A&E department when the incident occurred on September 20, 2020, Falkirk Sheriff Court was told on Wednesday, February 17.

He was there after an earlier incident in Falkirk Police Station, following his arrest on a separate matter.

Prosecutor Cheryl Clark said: "He had been taken to the police office. While in the custody suite being processed by staff he became violent and aggressive."

Ms Clark said he "forcibly moved" his left arm across his body to try and force a police officer to release her grip of him.

He was then restrained on the ground and handcuffs were re-applied to him, before he was taken to the Forth Valley Royal Hospital at Larbert to be medically checked.

In A&E department, he was being discharged at about 9.20pm when he again became aggressive towards police.

Ms Clark said: "He then turned his head towards the PC and spat in his face."

The other officer's left hand was injured in the first incident, and she also attended at the hospital and was x-rayed.

Medics diagnosed pain due to a pulled muscle.

Appearing by video link from Low Moss Prison, Ross, of Alloa, pleaded guilty to police assault and resisting police.

Solicitor Ian Moir, defending, said: "He was heavily intoxicated at the time.

"He had taken drink and another substance which didn't agree with him.

"He understands a custodial sentence in inevitable."

Imposing the 13-and-a-half month prison term, Sheriff Christopher Shead said custody was "the only appropriate way of dealing with this".

He backdated the sentence to September 21, when Ross was first arrested for the matter.