A CLACKS man who claimed to be Austrian monster Josef Fritzl, and battered a police officer with the door of his own police car, has been jailed for two years.

Declan Smith, 25, also claimed to be "Mohammed" and injured two officers during an "outrageous" evening of violence.

Several police officers were sent to Zetland Street, Clackmannan on January 23, this year, at about 9.50pm, following reports of a man brandishing a knife.

Falkirk Sheriff Court heard that when officers arrived and stopped their van in front of Smith, he made a "slashing" motion with the knife towards them and said: "Come near me and I'll f***ing stab youse".

Officers "backed up" at the threats and Smith threw the weapon under a parked vehicle before running off with the police in pursuit.

One PC saw Smith running along the street toward him, and got out of his car to try to stop him.

Prosecutor Cheryl Clark said: "As he exited his vehicle the accused ran straight at him and pushed the vehicle door towards the officer.

"This resulted in [the PC] being pinned between the door and the vehicle, and the accused repeatedly punched him on the head and upper body while continuing to push the vehicle door into him."

The officer held Smith's clothing to prevent him from getting away, and Smith threatened to kill him.

Ms Clark said at this point, it was unclear to the brave officer whether Smith still had a knife or not.

Another PC also attempted to restrain the accused and Smith punched him in the face before he was taken to the ground.

It then took officers "a number of minutes" to secure him with leg restraints while he struggled violently, lashing out, thrashing his head, kicking and screaming.

He also attempted to cough towards the police, claiming he was Covid-19 positive, and threatened further violence against them.

Smith was arrested and continued to shout and swear repeatedly, and during a journey to Falkirk Police Station he verbally abused the officers.

He repeatedly headbutted the interior of the police van, and tried to choke himself with his handcuffs.

At the police station charge bar, he gave his name as Josef Fritzl, who kept his daughter in a dungeon for 24 years.

He also claimed to be "Mohammed, from Bomb Street".

Officers removed his clothing for his safety and placed him in a cell, where he spat at a PC through the hatch, leaving his saliva "covering the front of the officer's stab vest".

The first injured PC suffered swelling to his head and face, and bruising, while the second sustained a black eye and swelling to his face.

Smith pleaded guilty on indictment to resisting and assaulting police and using threatening and abusive behaviour.

Solicitor Simon Hutchison, defending, said Smith had a "traumatic" childhood, including the loss of close family members.

He said: "These matters have caused him severe post traumatic stress disorder, and when he is at liberty he turns to alcohol, blacks out, and can't remember anything he does.

"On this day he had a litre of vodka and behaved quite outrageously."

Jailing Smith for two years, Sheriff Keith O'Mahony said: "The only possible option is a custodial sentence."