Man jailed for throwing packet of crisps at sheriff in Glasgow

Stephen Bottley assaulted Sheriff Barry Divers while he was being sentenced for a previous assault on a court employee

Author: Paul KellyPublished 8th Jul 2024

A man who threw a packet of crisps at a Glasgow sheriff from the dock has been jailed for 16 months.

Stephen Bottley, 45, hurled the bag at Sheriff Barry Divers in Glasgow Sheriff Court on November 1 2023.

Bottley was enraged after Sheriff Divers sent him to prison for 17 months for spitting on a court employee in November 2022.

He initially challenged Sheriff Divers after he passed sentence and told him that he was going to get "slashed."

Bottley then took the crisp packet out of his pocket and threw it at him, almost making contact.

Bottley pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting Sheriff Divers.

The court heard that Bottley was escorted to the dock in court 7 by a security officer from the cell area.

Sheriff Divers concluded the matter Bottley appeared on and gave him a prison sentence.

Bottley then made remarks directed at the sheriff and shouted: "Is that all you can do, jail people?"

He then threated Sheriff Divers stating: "Come down here then.

"What if my father dies while I'm in custody.

"I'm gonna slash you, I'm gonna get you, you're marked."

He also referred to the sheriff as a "c***" which was shouted at him.

Prosecutor Alasdair Knox said: "Bottley reached into his trouser pocket, produced a packet of crisps which he threw in the direction of Sheriff Divers, missing him but landing close by."

A police officer attended at the dock before Bottley was taken away by the custody officer.

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