A COWDENBEATH man assaulted three police officers, flooded a room in Stratheden Hospital and shouted and spat at people in Victoria Hospital over the course of just two days.

Greg Black, who appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, was remanded in custody after the catalogue of offences in July.

Black, 27, of South Street, previously admitted on July 12 at Stratheden Hospital, he did maliciously smash a bottle and a chest of drawers and did block a sink with paper towels, turn on the tap and cause flooding.

On July 13 at his home address he assaulted a police officer by repeatedly spitting on his head and body and assaulted another officer by kicking him on the body.

At Dunfermline Police Station, Black assaulted another officer and spat on his head and, at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear or alarm and did shout, swear and spit.

Depute fiscal Alistair McDermid said Black had been staying as an inpatient at Stratheden when he went for a consultation.

He broke down and told the staff member that he was suicidal. Becoming more distressed he started throwing around items and blocked a sink, causing around £150 worth of flood damage.

He later went home but the next day the police were contacted after a call of concern for Black.

Police tried to take control of him, but he began spitting at a constable. When another officer tried to help he tensed his arms and in the course of the struggle he kicked an officer on the body.

Black was taken to Dunfermline Police Station and whilst there he continued to spit at an officer, striking him on the head.

As Black had hit his head and split it open in a police cell he was taken to Victoria Hospital. Whilst there he shouted and swore and spat on the ward.

Mr McDermid said it wasn’t directed at anyone in particularly and that he was generally spitting.

Defence solicitor Peter Robertson said his client had been detained for mental health reasons and he was released the next day.

“He appears to have used the time in custody in a good manner and has now served 65 days,” Mr Robertson said.

“He is genuinely remorseful for his actions. There are mental health issues, but this is also down to his alcohol problems. It’s not a case of he just blames his problems on his mental health.”

Sheriff Charles Macnair said: “Over the course of two days you committed a number of very serious offences including assaulting police officers.

“One of which was spitting and that is a disgusting thing to do. You did not stop at that in the police station and assaulted yet another officer.

“You then behaved in an appalling way in Victoria Hospital which, of course, is full of ill people that are entitled to protection.

“I take into account that you have served a period in remand, so I am just prepared to deal with this in terms of a community payback order.”

The sheriff imposed a two-year supervision order and 170 hours of unpaid work.