A GREENOCK thug smashed a mug off a police officer’s head during a disturbance at a flat in the town.

Two attempts to subdue Michael Anthony Beaton with a ‘Taser’ weapon had no effect on the 42-year-old, Greenock Sheriff Court was told, after police  entered the property in Regent Street – leaving the officer ‘in fear of his life’ when Beaton grabbed the weapon and struck him with it.

Beaton pleaded guilty to assaulting two police officers during the incident, striking one on the head with a mug and kicking the second in the stomach.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard that police were asked to attend the property on December 23 last year following reports of an “ongoing disturbance”.

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Fiscal Kirstin Brierley told the court that the officers heard three male voices when they arrived at the property, and that police had called for more help as the disturbance escalated inside.

One police officer identified himself and indicated that he had a Taser as he entered through the unlocked door.

Beaton, the court heard, was seen ‘standing over’ another man at the end of the hallway, with weapons also being observed ‘lying around’ – including a kitchen knife, tools and a pipe.

Another constable tried to speak to Beaton, whose behaviour ‘deteriorated’ as he became increasingly aggressive towards police.

He began to stare at officers and bare his teeth, before charging at the officer carrying the Taser.

Beaton pleaded guilty at Greenock Sheriff Court (Image: Newsquest) The court heard that the Taser was then fired at and struck Beaton, but had ‘no effect’ on him.

While ‘in fear for his life’, the officer fired the Taser a second time.

Ms Brierley added: “The accused began frantically reaching for a weapon and picked up a mug.”

The mug struck the officer’s left temple, leaving a cut on his head, before Beaton kicked the second officer on the body.

He was eventually removed from the property and taken to Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Defence solicitor Amy Spencer told the court Beaton, who was described in court papers as an inmate at Greenock prison, had been on remand on the case since January, and that he was also serving a prison sentence on another matter.

Ms Spencer said: “His behaviour towards police was disgraceful. He fully acknowledges that.

“He spent the best part of this year in custody suffering as a consequence of these actions.”

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Sheriff Anthony McGeehan told Beaton: “You chose to respond to officers carrying out their lawful duties with violence and aggression.

“I can only imagine the fear the officers must have felt when confronting you and your continued violence towards them.”

Sheriff McGeehan acknowledged that, in sentencing Beaton, he was obliged to consider the ‘unusual’ procedural history of the case.

As a result of this, he said the sentence given would not be a ‘true reflection’ of the offences committed.

He told the court his starting position would have been 24 months in prison, but due to the timing of Beaton’s plea and the period he had already spent in custody, he would spend one month behind bars.

The sentence will be served following the completion of Beaton’s current jail term.

* Editor's note: The Michael Beaton who is the subject of this article is not the same Michael Beaton previously reported by the Tele in connection with the murder charge against Richard Mullan, to which Mullan pleaded guilty on November 8.