FRONTLINE police officers have criticised the "soft" sentence handed out to a Scottish premiership footballer after he avoided a jail sentence for attacking two police officers as they tried to arrest him.
Paul McGowan, a former Celtic youth player who is now a midfielder for St Mirren, was yesterday sentenced to 130 hours of unpaid work and a one-year supervision order.
The sentence was reduced from 170 hours on account of his early guilty plea, but McGowan, who has a previous conviction for police assault, was told that as part of his community payback order he may have to attend the Meridian alcohol counselling service.
Brian Docherty, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, said: "An attack on a police officer is an attack on the fabric of society. It is disappointing to see a soft sentence handed out again.
"We can only put cases before the courts. It is up to the courts to decide on the merits of the case.
"It is quite disappointing the way the courts deal with assaults on police officers."
Outside court, McGowan said: "I'm not allowed to say anything but I would have taken that if you'd have asked me."
He had previously admitted kicking Constable Edward Gilmartin and repeatedly kicking Constable Tony Fitzpatrick in Airdrie and at Coatbridge police station on August 11.
The 26-year-old pled guilty to the double assault at Airdrie Sheriff Court last month.
Sentencing him yesterday, Sheriff Frank Pieri told him: "People who act in this way towards police officers can expect a prison sentence, especially with someone like your record.
"However, I am prepared to deal with you in this way as a direct alternative to custody."
The court heard how McGowan, a father of one, had been on a night out in his home town of Airdrie with his father when the incident took place.
Police were called to Wheatholm Street after receiving a tip-off about an incident involving the player. While being handcuffed the footballer kicked out at Constable Gilmartin, striking him on the knee. He was then held face down but kicked out again, catching Constable Fitzpatrick on the inner thigh and groin area, causing him "severe pain".
Because of his aggressive manner, the officers were forced to restrain his feet using fast-straps before he was taken to Coatbridge police station.
McGowan's solicitor Mark Lutton told the sheriff the incident was an "impulsive reaction by a young man that was drunk".
The solicitor added: "His behaviour was totally inappropriate. He fully accepts his wrongdoing. He is able to recognise the role excessive alcohol has played. He does not offer that as an excuse but to explain his behaviour. He is thoroughly ashamed. He is full of regret and remorse and offers his full apology to both the court and to the police officers concerned."
McGowan's lawyer added that the player's parents were "deeply disappointed" by their son's behaviour.
Following the court proceedings, St Mirren said: "Today's sentencing brings this deeply regrettable matter to a close.
"We have been very clear we do not condone Paul's actions in any way. Everyone involved with St Mirren Football Club is fully aware we expect them to act in accordance with our commitment to respect and tolerance in our community. Paul knows what he did was wrong and completely unacceptable. As a club, our long-term objective is to help him learn from his behaviour and move on with his life and career and, as such, we have no further comment to make."
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article