A DRUNKEN Greenock lout who threatened to ‘get people to do in’ his neighbours before spitting at police officers has been jailed.

Dean Footit pleaded guilty to three indictment charges during a hearing at Greenock Sheriff Court on Tuesday, including two counts of assaulting a constable.

A prosecutor told the court the 31-year-old accused banged loudly on the door of a flat on Drumfrochar Road in the afternoon of February 12 and demanded that his neighbours cleaned the common close.

Procurator fiscal depute Maria Murdoch said Footit was ‘immediately confrontational’ when the complainers opened the door.

The fiscal depute said: “He made threats and due to his aggressive demeanour they closed the door.

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“At this point, the accused could be heard shouting ‘I’m going to get people here and they’ll do you in’, and ‘You’re getting done in and battered’.”

Police were contacted and two officers attended the address.

Footit was arrested and placed in a cell van to be transported to Greenock police office, however, he became aggressive during the journey to the Rue End Street station.

Ms Murdoch said: “Once he arrived in police custody the accused continued to be aggressive and he was taken to the prone position due to his behaviour.

“Whilst in his cell he had threatened to spit on police witnesses and a spit hood was applied. It had to be removed due to concerns that he would choke.

“Once the spit hood was removed he began to gather a large amount of saliva in his mouth showing it to police witnesses.

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“Police were concerned they would be spat on and one PC took a hold of him and moved his face away from him.

“The accused then spat and it hit the wall of the cell missing the officers.”

Defence solicitor Aidan Gallagher said Footit had ‘drank to excess’ and alcohol ‘obviously clouded his view’.

Mr Gallagher added: “A minor matter led to the exchange with his neighbours. Had he simply left it alone matters would not have escalated to the extent heard.

“He offers no excuse. The spitting is disgusting.

“He apologises for his behaviour for what it is worth.”

Footit , who has a ‘significant record’, was on eight separate bail orders at the time of the offences earlier this year – and he received a backdated 12-month prison sentence after admitting the latest crimes.

He has spent more than 200 days on remand and his sentence was backdated to February 13.

Sheriff Anthony McGeehan told him: “Mr Gallagher is absolutely right in describing your behaviour towards police officers as disgusting.

“There is no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.”