A POLICE officer was pricked by a needle while searching a Tranent man.

Lee MacDonald had a needle on him while being body-searched by PC Andrew Alty, despite claiming he had nothing of any danger on him. But during the pat-down at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, the officer was pricked by a needle.

MacDonald, of Fa’side Crescent, appeared at the Capital’s sheriff court last Tuesday, where he admitted the offence.

The 35-year-old was ordered to undergo a rapid drug treatment and testing order assessment before sentencing next month.

Not guilty pleas to possessing heroin in Edinburgh last October and failing to appear at an earlier court hearing in May were both accepted by the Crown.

MacDonald admitted culpably and recklessly denying he had anything sharp on him before a police search whereby PC Andrew Alty was pricked by a needle to his injury on October 7 last year.