A troubled teen has been caged for spitting at cops and boasting: “I could have given the polis covid.”
Jay Roney, 18, was handed a total of 15 months behind bars after admitting charges of police assault, assault and breaking his bail curfew.
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Paisley Sheriff Court heard Roney challenged police to fight during a disturbance at his home in Linwood.
The youngster got so out of control that officers had to place a spit hood on his head and request a cell van to take him into custody.
He appeared for sentencing this week after pleading guilty to a charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, where he shouted and swore at police, acted aggressively, kicked out and struggled with three constables.
He also admitted a charge of assault by attempting to spit on a police officer’s head.
Roney also pleaded guilty to breaking his curfew several times in March by being out of his address when police carried out bail checks at his home in Erskinefauld Road.
He also admitted another charge of assaulting a man in the street and a further offence of public disorder.
Defence agent Terry Gallanagh told the court his client was “a troubled young man” who had been left devastated by the tragic death of his baby nephew.
He said: “Mr Roney experienced feelings of deep depression following the death of his nephew, who died aged only 25 days old.
“He found it difficult to deal with such tragedy, himself being of a young age.
“He has little previous offending and has the support of his loyal family.”
Mr Gallangh stressed that Roney has expressed his deepest remorse for how he behaved and wanted to apologise for his conduct.
He said he may benefit from supervision when he is released.
Sheriff Brian Mohan, who studied reports ahead of sentencing, told him there was no alternative to custody given the number of offences, and the gravity of his crimes.
He jailed Roney for a total of 15 months and ordered that he be placed under mandatory supervision by the local authority for two years on his release.
Roney was also ordered to perform 260 hours of unpaid work within 12 months, for the benefit of the community.
