Motherwell star fined for verbally abusing police officers

A Motherwell star was fined after hurling abuse at police officers.

Glasgow Sheriff Court
Author: Natalie CrawfordPublished 5th Oct 2022

A Motherwell star was fined after hurling abuse at police officers.

Callum Slattery, 23, also lashed out at a constable after being ejected from a nightclub in Glasgow's Candleriggs on November 7, 2021.

The midfielder boasted: "I have more money than you and my lawyers are better than yours."

Slattery later tried to flee from police and ended up in hospital after tripping over a kerb.

Slattery appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court hours after netting against Ross County in a 0-5 win for the Steelmen.

The former Southampton man pled guilty to two charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

One of the charges was aggravated by prejudice related to sexual orientation.

The first offender, from Oxford, also admitted two charges of assaulting PC Frazer Bell.

The court heard Slattery approached officers stating that he was a professional footballer who was kicked out of 18 Candleriggs nightclub.

Slattery - who showed signs of aggression - asked officers if they could obtain information as to why he was ejected.

The manager informed officers that the reason for kicking him about was due to his aggressive manner.

An angry Slattery was told to leave the area by officers and to make his way home.

It is then he made the comment about having more money than the officers.

He then called them: "C***s."

Slattery was asked for his details before stating: "I have a better lawyer than you do."

Officers believed Slattery attempted to film them with his mobile phone but it was unknown if he hit record.

Slattery said: "Look at me big man, do I threaten you?"

Prosecutor Ross Canning added: "He told officers that the reason this situation happened was because he was English and that they were racist c***s.

"He said: 'Just because you wear a yellow coat and black hat, I have go a better lawyer than you.

"I know the law, I'm a citizen, you all know nothing'."

Slattery briefly left the scene while making a homophobic remark to a female officer.

He was told he was going to be put under arrest but he ran off after a struggle before colliding into a member of the public on the road and tripped over a kerb.

Slattery was escorted by the officers to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where he continued his aggressive behaviour.

He barged past PC Bell with his shoulder and pushed him against a door.

Slattery also stated to the constables: "My lawyer will have your jobs."

Kevin McCarron, defending, told the court that Slattery was dealing with a serious illness of a relative at the time.

The lawyer added: "He is horrified and humiliated by his conduct that night - it is inexcusable.

"He is a young man who has never been in trouble in his life who was working in the Motherwell area.

"It was a quantity of alcohol for someone who doesn't drink which is entirely unsustainable.

"He is facing a penalty for it and he doesn't shirk away from it."

Slattery, whose bail address is Motherwell's Fir Park stadium, was fined £1,350 and will pay it within two months.

Sheriff Paul Reid told him: "I have taken everything that's been to and I realise at the time you were going through severe difficulties.

"It doesn't take away your behaviour at the time which was disgraceful.

"You embarrassed yourself, your profession and your football club."

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