Police officer called “Taliban b*****d” by man caught stealing cider from supermarket

Glasgow’s Evening Times reports on the sentencing of two men for theft and abuse after they stole bottles of cider and shouted slurs at police officers at a Morrisons supermarket in Merkland Court, Glasgow.

John McDermid, 25, and Conor Urquhart, 25, appeared before Glasgow Sheriff Court in connection with the incident which happened on 15 March.

The court heard the two men had stolen £15 worth of cider from the supermarket and were attempting to walk out with the stolen cans and bottles in a black holdall.

Security officers were alerted to the theft and called to the entrance doors of the supermarket where McDermid claimed to have a blade but didn’t. He later threatened the security staff with a glass bottle.

Two police officers who responded to the report were verbally abused by Urquhart who called one officer a “Taliban b*****d” and the other a “f***ing poofter” and “spice boy”.

McDermid and Urquhart, both admitted stealing a quantity of alcohol at Morrisons in Merkland Court on 15 March 2016. They also both admitted to shouting, swearing and uttering threats of violence at security officers on the same date at the same place and brandishing a bottle.

Urquhart further admitted to struggling violently with police officers and uttering racial remarks at a police officer and shouting homophobic remarks at another police officer.

Both men were sentenced to carry out unpaid community work.

John McDermid was sentenced to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work.

Conor Urquhart was sentenced to carry out 160 hours of unpaid community work.