Scottish Premiership Footballer Faces Jail After Kicking Cop

Pic: Jeff Holmes

A Scottish Premiership footballer faces jail after he admitted kicking a police officer, his third conviction for police assault. The incident happened less than 24 hours after he had played in Dundee's 2-1 defeat to Celtic at Celtic Park last November. In December 2013 McGowan escaped a jail sentence when he was given community service, also for attacking police officers. Fallen Dundee star Paul McGowan, 27, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, was arrested in the early hours of November 23, 2014, after an incident at a house in Wheatholm Street, Airdrie. McGowan pled guilty today to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm. He was aggressive and was shouting and swearing. He also pled guilty on the same day to assaulting PC Jamie White in the execution of his duty, by kicking him on the body. The attack happened at Coatbridge Police Office, Whittington Street, Coatbridge. The midfielder, who began his career with Celtic and also played for St Mirren, denied resisting arrest, obstructed and hindering five police officers, Constables Burton, Harvey, Miller, Divers and Patrick, in the execution of their duty, and struggling violently with them. His plea of not guilty was accepted by Crown prosecutor Claire Nicols. The 27-year-old pled guilty to two of the three charges he faced when he made a brief appearance at Airdrie Sheriff Court before Sheriff Janice Scott. The soccer ace only spoke in court to confirm his guilty pleas, confirming "yes" to both. Sentence was deferred on McGowan, who was released on bail, until April 13 after the sheriff called for a full range of background reports. The sheriff told McGowan: "You have a bit of a recent history and I will be calling for reports for sheriffs to consider sentence. The footballer, who was accompanied by family and friends, left court without making any comment.