A WEE COUNTY man who spat and smeared his own blood over a police van and kicked off at A&E when children were present has been jailed.

Stephen Bell had been taken to Forth Valley Royal Hospital after hitting himself in the head with his own handcuffs.

Before that, he smeared the inside of the police van cage with blood and saliva before terrifying children at the hospital by screaming and swearing.

A sheriff told the father-of-five that his behaviour, while the country was in the grip of a pandemic, was "totally unacceptable".

Falkirk Sheriff Court heard that Bell had tried to barge into the hair studio in Sauchie, at around 4.20pm, on April 20, 2021, while in possession of a shopping bag, a dining chair, and a sack barrow.

Staff at the hairdresser's told him they were closed.

Prosecutor Alistair McDermid said: "They could see he was under the influence of something and didn't want him in the shop."

Bell became aggressive and tried to get in, pushing and swinging punches at one worker as he told him to leave.

He managed to get the 28-year-old out of the shop and closed the metal shutters.

Minutes later, a member of the public called police to report that Bell was in possession of a metal pole.

Three NHS workers leaving a nearby health centre saw Bell with the pole, which he then threw over a fence, striking and smashing the window of a local authority housing office.

He then ran onto Main Street, Sauchie, where he was arrested.

While being taken to Falkirk Police Station, he managed to slip one of his hands out of the handcuffs and then hit himself in the head with the handcuff.

Police stopped the van to re-apply the restraints, and while doing so Bell's head struck the ground, injuring his forehead.

On the way to hospital he verbally abused both officers, and failed to stop when asked.

The prosecutor added: "He went on to smear his blood and saliva over the inside of the cell in the van."

Arriving at the hospital at about 7pm, he continued to shout and swear, repeatedly trying to escape.

He pushed one officer out of a waiting room door, and repeatedly had to be restrained.

Mr McDermid said: "He continually threatened police officers and civilians, shouting 'I'm going to come at you with a knife'.

"He was at the hospital for around four hours.

"During this time he continually screamed, swore and shouted, causing alarm to people, including small children, who were waiting for treatment at A&E."

Bell, of Sauchie, appeared by video link from Low Moss Prison and pleaded guilty to assault, vandalism, threatening and abusive behaviour, and police assault.

Defence solicitor Kelly Howe said: "He was heavily intoxicated and has little or no memory of the events."

Jailing Bell for 16 months, Sheriff Valerie Johnston said his conduct over "a lengthy period of time" meant a prison sentence was unavoidable.

She said: "Officers, staff and members of the public were put at risk, let alone the disruption it caused.

"The spitting and smearing of blood at a time when the country is still in the grip of a pandemic is totally unacceptable."