Man went on rampage

Oct 5 2012 by Colin Rutherford, Kilmarnock Standard

A 23-year-old man went on the rampage after police tried to issue him with a fixed penalty for behaving abusively in a Kilmarnock park.

Reese Hill, of Fullarton Street, Kilmarnock, lashed out at officers, struggled with them violently and ran off with a pair of handcuffs.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week, Hill pleaded guilty to charges of acting in a threatening or abusive manner and resisting arrest.

The offences were committed in the Howard Park in August.

Jo Cunningham, prosecuting, said around 6.45pm a woman walking her dog in the park, along with her 11-year-old daughter,went past Hill and another man and heard an abusive comment being made by one of them.

Ms Cunningham said: “She approached them to challenge them regarding their behaviour.

“At this time the accused became aggressive.”

The woman reported the matter to the police who went to the Howard Park at 7.25pm.

They told Hill “they were proposing to issue him with an ASBO ticket”, a reference to a fixed penalty notice.

Hill, she said, started to shout and gesture towards the officers.

Ms Cunningham said Hill’s behaviour was so alarming children and others began to leave.

When officers tried to take hold of him, he ran off, shouting at police.

They gave chase and caught him, but again he put up a struggle.

Ms Cunningham told the court: “He was successful in snatching the handcuffs away from the police officers. He continued to struggle and brandished the handcuffs at the officers.”

Police became concerned they were in “imminent danger” and called for assistance.

“The accused, however, continued to lash and wrestled his way free, running off still in possession of the handcuffs.”

When other officers arrived, Hill threw the cuffs over a security fence.

Ms Cunningham said: “Leg restraints required to be applied to him before they were successful in placing him within a vehicle.”

Allan Kerr, defending, told Sheriff Watson: “You no doubt wonder why he behaved in the way he did. Except perhaps to say he had been drinking, I can’t really offer any explanation.”

He said when police arrived Hill was confused as to what they wanted.

Sheriff Watson ordered Hill to carry out 80 hours unpaid work.