A Bellshilll rowdy has been jailed for trying to spit at a police officer - whilst wearing a face mask.
Officers had found Paul Curran lying in the middle of the road in the town's Main Street after a worried passer-by raised the alarm.
Mairi-Clare McMillan, prosecuting, told Hamilton Sheriff Court: "Police officers asked if he was all right and he became aggressive.
"Despite warnings, this behaviour continued and when told he was under arrest the accused punched PC Euan Craig twice on the leg.
"He was put in a police car and tried several times to spit at PC Craig.
"However, Curran was wearing a face mask at the time.
"It was decided to put a spit hood on him so he couldn't spit if the mask fell off."
Curran, 47, admitted assaulting the officer while the subject of three bail orders on February 15.
Defence agent Diarmid Bruce said Curran has had 12 accidental overdoses over the years and has a problem with street Valium.
The lawyer stated: "There was clearly an intention to spit, but no contact could be made because of the face mask.
"Due to his level of intoxication, he did not realise he had a mask on.
"He is not short of good intentions and has engaged with a Christian group while in prison.
"He knows spitting is unacceptable behaviour."
Sheriff Colin Dunipace said the charge was "extremely serious" and Curran's record was "appalling".
He jailed the accused for 15 months, reduced from 20 months due to his guilty plea, and backdated it as Curran has been in custody since February 16.
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
