A TEENAGER who spat blood at two police officers during a violent confrontation in Musselburgh has been placed on a home curfew.

Lee Ness caused a disturbance outside a home on the town’s Mar Grove by demanding to know where the householder’s daughter was.

Ness shouted and swore at the girl’s parents, uttered threats towards them and kicked out at their front door.

Police were alerted to the incident and, after the 19-year-old had been arrested, he turned violent and attempted to assault two officers.

Ness, of Meadowbank, Ormiston, then spat in the face of one constable, while he also spat blood at two other officers while being detained on June 6 last year.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that Ness arrived at the home in Musselburgh at about 3.30am and began banging on the front door.

He was shouting and swearing at the homeowners and was demanding to see the woman’s daughter.

'You're getting stabbed'

He threatened the pair and was heard to shout, “I am going to f***ing stab you” and “You’re getting stabbed to f***”.

When police arrived, Ness soon turned his attention to them and, while acting aggressively, he attempted to assault the officers.

Fiscal depute Anna Chisholm said Ness spat in the face of one PC while he also spat blood at two officers.

The constables were forced to place a spit hood over Ness and the court was told the officers suffered “bruising” during the struggle.

Ness had previously pleaded guilty to the offences when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and returned last Wednesday for sentencing.

'Careful consideration'

Solicitor Mark Harrower said that his client lived with his mother and was in full-time employment.

Sheriff Kenneth Campbell QC said he had given the case “careful consideration” and decided to spare Ness a custodial sentence.

Instead, Ness was placed on a supervision order for the next two years and was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

He will also have to stay within his home address between 11pm and 6am for the next nine months.

Ness pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at an address in Musselburgh on June 6 last year. He also admitted to two charges of assaulting police officers by attempting to kick and punch them, spitting in the face of one officer, and spitting blood at two constables on the same date.