By Mike McQuaid
Contributor
A thug has been jailed for 32 months for stabbing a police officer during a drugs raid.
Hamilton Sheriff Court (pictured) heard how Ryan Leishman was armed with two knives when he confronted PC Colin Harris.
He stabbed the officer on the arm, causing a wound that required stitches and has left scarring.
Leishman, 35, admitted assaulting PC Harris to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
He also admitted shouting abuse and brandishing knives during the incident at his home in Culross Hill, East Kilbride, on November 6 last year.
Katie Allen, prosecuting, said police officers had arrived at Leishman’s home with a drugs warrant at around 8am.
She told the court: “They were in plain clothes, but had their warrant cards. The door of the property was locked so they forced entry.
“PC Harris put up his arms to protect himself and Leishman stabbed him on the left forearm”
“Furniture had been placed in front of the door by the accused to obstruct entry, and the hallway was dimly lit and in a state of disarray.
“The officers shouted ‘police’ repeatedly and saw the accused come out of a bedroom into the hall, holding a knife in each hand.
“They shouted ‘Police – drop the knives’, but the accused lunged towards them with a large kitchen knife.
“PC Harris put up his arms to protect himself and Leishman stabbed him on the left forearm and made further stabbing motions towards him.
“He then retreated slightly and was taken to the ground. The knives were removed from him.”
Defence lawyer Ryan Sloan said his client knew that stabbing a police officer had to be treated “extremely seriously”.
But he added: “His position is that he simply didn’t know they were police officers. He was woken by the door being smashed off its hinges and went into an immediate state of panic.
“He did not have time to take in the fact that they had warrant cards. He says he didn’t hear ‘police’ being shouted.
“Having awoken from his slumber, he panicked and reacted out of all proportion. This was a gross misunderstanding on his part.”
Sloan conceded Leishman has an “extensive and very serious” criminal record.
This includes a two-year jail sentence imposed in 2024 for fracturing his ex-partner’s skull in an assault.
The solicitor told Sheriff John Speir: “His life has been littered with misery. He suffered every adverse childhood experience you can think of.”
The sheriff said prison was inevitable, but reduced the sentence from four years because Leishman had pleaded guilty at an early stage.
The 32-month stretch was backdated to November 7 as he has been in custody since his arrest.