A DRUNK thug who spat at a police officer wrongly assuming he was a mugger has been jailed for 16 months.

James Boyd, 58, lashed out at constable Mark Richardson in Glasgow’s Cowcaddens on 17 February this year.

Boyd had earlier been attacked and was lying unconscious before being roused by police.

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The lout then spat at the officer but didn’t make contact before being taken to hospital.

Boyd then shouted abuse at the officers and nurses as well as uttered threats of violence.

He pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting PC Richardson and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

His lawyer Michael Foster told the court Boyd had been drinking and was “legless” prior to the attack.

He added: “He was lying unconscious after being mugged.

“Police went to rouse him and he thought it was the people who had attacked him.

“He was in a sense innocent, but that changed.”

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Sheriff Paul Crozier stated that by the time he got to hospital he would have known what had gone on.

Mr Foster replied: “I don’t think he was capable of making a rational decision.”

Sheriff Crozier told Boyd that that custody was the only way to deal with matters.

He added: “You were helped by police and taken to hospital and while there you behaved in an appalling manner to those who were just trying to help you.”