A TRANENT man assaulted a police officer after calling 999 to report that he had suffered an injury to one of his testicles.

Devlin McFarlane contacted the emergency services after claiming he had been injured and needed help.

But after police officers made contact with McFarlane, he began to act aggressively towards them before he lashed out and attempted to headbutt one of them.

McFarlane appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to two offences, including assaulting the constable, in October last year.

The court was told that McFarlane had telephoned the 999 emergency number to report that he had suffered “an injury to a testicle”.

Police attended his home at the town’s Muirpark Drive but could not locate him at the time, though officers returned later and found him within.

The court heard that McFarlane was “initially compliant” but, while being taken to a waiting police vehicle, he had attempted to headbutt PC Tony Smith.

He was cautioned and charged and, after being placed within the police van, he began to behave in an aggressive manner.

'Thoroughly ashamed'

McFarlane repeatedly struck his head on the interior of the van and also began spitting within the vehicle.

The unemployed 23-year-old also made threats of violence and offensive remarks while on route to Livingston Police Station.

Solicitor Rebecca Weissgerber, representing McFarlane, said that her client suffered from ADHD and PTSD, and took medication for his health difficulties.

The lawyer said that McFarlane had been drinking alcohol that day and was now “thoroughly ashamed of his actions”.

Sheriff John Cook said: “ This is a serious matter as you attempted to assault a police officer, but thankfully nothing came of it.”

Sheriff Cook sentenced McFarlane to pay a fine of £470.

McFarlane pleaded guilty to assaulting PC Tony Smith by attempting to headbutt him on the head at Northfield East, Tranent, on October 16 last year.

He also admitted to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner within a police vehicle on route to Livingston Police Station on the same date.