Officers narrowly avoid
head-on collision after
being assaulted

Vivien McAllister launched an attack on two PCs as they transported her across Perth

By Gordon Currie

Officers narrowly avoid head-on collision after being assaulted

Vivien McAllister launched an attack on two PCs as they transported her across Perth

By Gordon Currie

A police officer was forced to swerve into oncoming traffic and narrowly missed a head-on crash after being punched by a woman he was transporting in Perth.

Vivien McAllister, 29, attacked the officer before raining blows and spitting on his colleague several times during the journey to police HQ, after they had responded to her call for help.

After admitting two charges of assault at Perth Sheriff Court (pictured above), McAllister was ordered to pay compensation to both officers but avoided a prison sentence.

The court heard that she recognised her behaviour was “completely out of order”.

Fiscal depute Lissie Cook explained how PC Campbell Cunningham and PC Mark Cooper had gone to McAllister’s home after she called to say she had fallen out with her brother and needed help to get her keys back.

“She was placed in the rear of the police vehicle,” Cook said. “She began behaving erratically. PC Cooper tried to restrain her when she spat towards him, hitting him on the neck.

“She repeatedly spat at him, with the saliva landing on him. The accused punched PC Cooper to the left leg before punching him to the face and kicking him on the leg.

“She punched PC Cunningham to the right shoulder. He was driving at the time, and the punch caused him to swerve the vehicle into oncoming traffic.

“PC Cunningham stopped the vehicle to assist his colleague and the accused was arrested and placed in handcuffs. She continued to act aggressively and again spat at PC Cooper.

“She was repeatedly asked to desist but failed to comply and required to have a spit hood placed over her head. She was cautioned and charged and made no reply.”

Solicitor Linda Clark, defending, said: “The feeling from the report is that she lives a fairly isolated existence, and when she gets her benefits she uses a proportion to seek out social events – the pub and the like – to come into the company of others.

“She recognises her behaviour was unacceptable and completely out of order. The fright of coming to court and being surrounded by persons more used to this environment has taken a toll on her.

“She is extremely upset and anxious about coming to court and what people will think of her for committing these offences. She has income available to her.”

“I can’t have anyone going round spitting on police officers”
Sheriff Alison McKay

McAllister, from Perth, admitted assaulting PC Cunningham on the body while he was driving between Atholl Street and Barrack Street in Perth on December 14, 2023.

She also admitted attacking PC Cooper by repeatedly spitting on him, repeatedly punching him on the head and body, and kicking him on the body.

Sheriff Alison McKay told McAllister: “I appreciate you have your own difficulties, but on this particular occasion you phoned police because you wanted help.

“They were giving you help and you rewarded them by assaulting them both. Punching one on the shoulder was bad enough, but you spat on the other and that is disgusting. I can’t have anyone going round spitting on police officers.”

She placed McAllister under social work supervision for 14 months and ordered her to pay £400 compensation to PC Cooper and £100 compensation to PC Cunningham, at a rate of £10 per week.