Nwicker60
30-Oct-16, 11:02
Police targeted by slingshot assailant
A COURT has heard of a bizarre, early morning incident which led to a police officers being attacked by a man wielding a hunting sling shot in Wick.
By good luck the stone fired, went straight 'through' David Morton... because he is tall and it passed between his legs Wick Sheriff Court was told.
The slingshot assailant, David Bourke, of 32 Macrae Street, Wick, was pursued by Constable Morton and his colleague Rebecca Shand who used CS gas to bring him under control..
Bourke, 28 admitted assaulting the police, discharging the slingshot at a CCTV system, breaching a curfew order and a number of of previous convictions.
The early morning drama, on December 29, last year, began after revellers returning home from a night out in Wick, observed Bourke making his way towards Argyle Square with what appeared to be a slingshot. It was described by fiscal Fraser Matheson as "fairly powerful" with a rating of 3000 PSI.
The revellers were surprised to see Bourke fire at a council CCTV system. They phoned the police and kept Bourke under observation until they arrived. Bourke was heading towards Brown Place when the two officers caught up with him.
Mr Matheson said: "They saw Bourke raise the slingshot and fire at Constable Morton. He was aware of something like a stone landing on ground behind him. The officer was concerned to say the least, but the missile actually passed between his legs. He is quite tall and he was very fortunate not to have been hit."
The officers took cover behind their vehicle for safety and saw Bourke point the slingshot in the direction of Constable Shand. The fiscal said: "She, understandably, raised her arms to protect her face and head."
Bourke fled, but the officers gave chase. A third officer followed in a patrol car. They caught up with the accused who dropped the slingshot after being sprayed with CS gas and he was handcuffed.
Mr Matheson said that Bourke gave some indication that he had used the slingshot to help him escape the police and also stated he had been told to used the apparatus by some sort of site on the internet.
Solicitor Fiona MacDonald said that the accused was conscious of the seriousness of his actions and appreciated these would attract a prison sentence. Her client had been trying to address issues in his life since the incident.
Sheriff Andrew Berry called for a background report and warned he could not rule out any of the options open to him.
Bourke was granted bail and will be sentenced on November 23.
A COURT has heard of a bizarre, early morning incident which led to a police officers being attacked by a man wielding a hunting sling shot in Wick.
By good luck the stone fired, went straight 'through' David Morton... because he is tall and it passed between his legs Wick Sheriff Court was told.
The slingshot assailant, David Bourke, of 32 Macrae Street, Wick, was pursued by Constable Morton and his colleague Rebecca Shand who used CS gas to bring him under control..
Bourke, 28 admitted assaulting the police, discharging the slingshot at a CCTV system, breaching a curfew order and a number of of previous convictions.
The early morning drama, on December 29, last year, began after revellers returning home from a night out in Wick, observed Bourke making his way towards Argyle Square with what appeared to be a slingshot. It was described by fiscal Fraser Matheson as "fairly powerful" with a rating of 3000 PSI.
The revellers were surprised to see Bourke fire at a council CCTV system. They phoned the police and kept Bourke under observation until they arrived. Bourke was heading towards Brown Place when the two officers caught up with him.
Mr Matheson said: "They saw Bourke raise the slingshot and fire at Constable Morton. He was aware of something like a stone landing on ground behind him. The officer was concerned to say the least, but the missile actually passed between his legs. He is quite tall and he was very fortunate not to have been hit."
The officers took cover behind their vehicle for safety and saw Bourke point the slingshot in the direction of Constable Shand. The fiscal said: "She, understandably, raised her arms to protect her face and head."
Bourke fled, but the officers gave chase. A third officer followed in a patrol car. They caught up with the accused who dropped the slingshot after being sprayed with CS gas and he was handcuffed.
Mr Matheson said that Bourke gave some indication that he had used the slingshot to help him escape the police and also stated he had been told to used the apparatus by some sort of site on the internet.
Solicitor Fiona MacDonald said that the accused was conscious of the seriousness of his actions and appreciated these would attract a prison sentence. Her client had been trying to address issues in his life since the incident.
Sheriff Andrew Berry called for a background report and warned he could not rule out any of the options open to him.
Bourke was granted bail and will be sentenced on November 23.