Man slashed off-duty police officer with windscreen wiper after being thrown out of Pepe's Piri Piri

A man slashed an off-duty officer with a piece of windscreen wiper after being thrown out of a chicken shop in Falkirk.

Lee McDonald lashed out with the makeshift weapon at Pepe’s Piri Piri on Glasgow Road, Camelon, around 12.40am on February 27, Falkirk Sheriff Court was told.

Prosecutor Sean Iles said: “McDonald was argumentative with the staff. An off-duty police officer… was also in Pepe’s.

“He attempted to de-escalate the situation by asking McDonald to leave the restaurant.”

Mr Iles said McDonald, 22, and the off-duty officer both left the restaurant and stood outside together.

After speaking for a short time, McDonald struck the victim on the head with an unknown weapon.

After “a brief physical altercation”, McDonald fled, and police were called while the victim, who suffered a cut on his cheek, went back into the restaurant.

McDonald, of Camelon, who appeared by video link from Low Moss Prison, pleaded guilty on indictment to assaulting the officer to his injury.

Jailing McDonald for ten months, Sheriff Christopher Shead said: “The court is taking account of what’s been said on your behalf and the nature of the offence.”