Thurso man found drinking pal dead in house

A Thurso man got the shock of his life when he called on a drinking buddy... and found him dead.

John Burns Glover immediately alerted the emergency services but fell foul of the police when they arrived. Officers refused him entry to the house on the basis it was a potential crime scene.

The 52-year-old flew into a rage and spat at a police sergeant who arrested him, Wick Sheriff Court was told on Tuesday.

Glover, of Henderson Court, Thurso appeared from custody and pleaded guilty to a charge of assault on indictment.

Pleas of not guilty to additional charges of resisting police officers by attempting to push his way into the house in Queen's Terrace, Thurso, and threatening or abusive behaviour, were accepted by Fiscal David Barclay.

Glover had been in his friend's company earlier on the afternoon of October 29, last year, Mr Barclay said.

The police located him at the house and told the accused to stand outside on the basis that the sudden death might become a potential crime scene.

Mr Barclay went on: "At that time, the two men were standing under the canopy of the front door of the property as it was raining heavily.

Glover indicated to police sergeant David Trueman that he was keen to go back into the house as he had items he had to collect and added he also needed the toilet. The officer told the accused that re-entry would not be possible and asked Glover to step outside.

The two men were about 10 to 12 feet apart when Glover got ready to spit in Sgt Trueman's direction.

Mr Barclay continued that the officer had time to step out of the way and the spittle didn't make contact. Glover was then arrested and, when cautioned and charged, claimed: "I spat on the floor in rage. My friend had just died and I spat in the floor in rage."

Solicitor George Mathers said that on the day in question, Glover had spent some time with his drinking partner of many years. The accused left but returned later to find that his pal had passed away.

Mr Mathers said: "It was an absolute shock. The police arrived and because it was a potential crime scene, wanted the accused out of the property. Glover resented this, given that he had alerted the police and felt he was being unfairly being dealt with by being put out in the rain. He had also been drinking and was needing the toilet."

The solicitor continued: "Up until yesterday, it was the accused's recollection that he spat on the ground, but has to accept that he spat in the direction of the police officer. It was a disgusting thing to do particularly these days and it could have had serious connotations."

Mr Mathers said that he had detected a change in Glover of late and suggested: "Maybe this is a turning point in his life and he will put his bad behaviour behind him."

The solicitor said that Glover had a history of drink and drug abuse and added: "Maybe at the age of 52, it is a late point in his life to be carrying on like this."

Mr Mathers revealed that when he first spoke to Glover about the case, the accused was "clearly suffering from depression" for which he was taking medication, and at times, was moved to tears.

Sheriff Gerrard Sinclair warned Glover that, given his record, it was only a matter of time before prison sentences would become "almost inevitable".

The sheriff said he would take the unusual step of deferring sentence for three months to allow Glover, who has a record of previous convictions, to demonstrate that he could behave.

Sheriff Sinclair said that his decision represented a "real challenge" for Glover and expressed the hope that if he was genuine in wanting to change "this roundabout of offending", it would give him the confidence to do so.

The sheriff added that if the accused kept out of trouble he would be admonished.