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Speeding Lanarkshire driver told cops to go 'catch beasts' before attacking police officer

A speeding driver who attacked a police officer has been jailed for 27 months after his behaviour was branded "deplorable". Colin Graham had earlier told officers to "catch beasts" and leave him alone. Graham, 42, appeared from custody at Hamilton Sheriff Court. He admitted driving dangerously on various roads in East Kilbride on February 7, assaulting a sergeant and acting in a threatening or abusive manner, reports Lanarkshire Live. Scott O'Connor, prosecuting, said police officers saw Graham's Volkswagen Golf travelling at "excessive speed" on Strathtay Avenue shortly after 11pm. He was pulled over but told them: "Catch beasts. Don't bother stopping me." Graham then drove on to Eaglesham Road. The officers followed him and requested help from colleagues due to concerns about his driving. He pulled into a bus stop on Murray Road and the officers again tried to talk to him, but he threatened them and drove off again at speed. More police reinforcements were called for and officers watched as Graham "struggled to control his vehicle". He drove on the wrong side of the road and swerved to avoid parked vehicles. Finally he stopped in Fleming Place, East Kilbride. Mr O'Connor told the court that the sergeant "opened the Golf's passenger door and instructed Graham to get out". And O'Connor added: "Graham screamed 'I'll f****** kill you' and punched the officer repeatedly on the head." The court heard that the sergeant responded with strikes to the head and they continued to battle. O'Connor added: "Graham then grabbed [the sergeant] by the neck with his hand, applying pressure for a few seconds and restricting his breathing. "At this time three colleagues removed Graham from the vehicle and he shouted 'I'm going to f*****g kill all of you'." The sergeant sustained a lump and grazing to his head, while Graham was taken to hospital for treatment. Defence lawyer Sam Anderson said Graham had a number of injuries, including two black eyes and a swollen cheekbone. He has made a complaint about his treatment that night and understands the force's professional standards unit are investigating his claim that excessive force was used by the officers. But Ms Anderson said he "expresses genuine remorse" for assaulting the sergeant and making threats. She added: "There is no excuse for his manner of driving. He posed a significant danger to himself and others. It's through good fortune that no pedestrians or other road users were injured." Sheriff Michael Higgins told Graham, who admitted previous convictions: "Your conduct was deplorable over a sustained period and the only proportionate sentence is custody." Graham was banned from driving for four years and must resit his test. Sign up to our daily Glasgow Live newsletter here to receive news and features direct to your inbox Join Glasgow Live's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.

Speeding Lanarkshire driver told cops to go 'catch beasts' before attacking police officer

A speeding driver who attacked a police officer has been jailed for 27 months after his behaviour was branded "deplorable".

Colin Graham had earlier told officers to "catch beasts" and leave him alone. Graham, 42, appeared from custody at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

He admitted driving dangerously on various roads in East Kilbride on February 7, assaulting a sergeant and acting in a threatening or abusive manner, reports Lanarkshire Live.

Scott O'Connor, prosecuting, said police officers saw Graham's Volkswagen Golf travelling at "excessive speed" on Strathtay Avenue shortly after 11pm. He was pulled over but told them: "Catch beasts. Don't bother stopping me."

Graham then drove on to Eaglesham Road. The officers followed him and requested help from colleagues due to concerns about his driving. He pulled into a bus stop on Murray Road and the officers again tried to talk to him, but he threatened them and drove off again at speed.

More police reinforcements were called for and officers watched as Graham "struggled to control his vehicle". He drove on the wrong side of the road and swerved to avoid parked vehicles. Finally he stopped in Fleming Place, East Kilbride.

Mr O'Connor told the court that the sergeant "opened the Golf's passenger door and instructed Graham to get out". And O'Connor added: "Graham screamed 'I'll f****** kill you' and punched the officer repeatedly on the head."

The court heard that the sergeant responded with strikes to the head and they continued to battle. O'Connor added: "Graham then grabbed [the sergeant] by the neck with his hand, applying pressure for a few seconds and restricting his breathing.

"At this time three colleagues removed Graham from the vehicle and he shouted 'I'm going to f*****g kill all of you'."

The sergeant sustained a lump and grazing to his head, while Graham was taken to hospital for treatment. Defence lawyer Sam Anderson said Graham had a number of injuries, including two black eyes and a swollen cheekbone.

He has made a complaint about his treatment that night and understands the force's professional standards unit are investigating his claim that excessive force was used by the officers. But Ms Anderson said he "expresses genuine remorse" for assaulting the sergeant and making threats.

She added: "There is no excuse for his manner of driving. He posed a significant danger to himself and others. It's through good fortune that no pedestrians or other road users were injured."

Sheriff Michael Higgins told Graham, who admitted previous convictions: "Your conduct was deplorable over a sustained period and the only proportionate sentence is custody."

Graham was banned from driving for four years and must resit his test.

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