A MAN who bit two police officers as they tried to handcuff him will spend two years behind bars for his act of violence in Clydebank.

Antonio Ross, who has a string of convictions dating back to 2013, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last Thursday.

Ross, who was listed in court papers as an inmate at Greenock prison, previously pleaded guilty to four charges, including assaulting police officers.

The 26-year-old had been high on drugs and alcohol when he lashed out at a flat in Park Court, Dalmuir, in April this year.

He admitted to repeatedly shouting, swearing, acting in an aggressive manner and engaging in a stand-up fight with two other people at the property in Littleholm Place, just hours after being granted bail from Paisley Sheriff Court.

After police were called out to the incident, Ross became aggressive towards officers, struggling as handcuffs were being applied. He bit a female constable on the right bicep, tearing the skin and drawing blood through her Police Scotland fleece.

Another male officer who had intervened was bitten on the wrist.

Once placed into a police van Ross continued to shout, swear and act in an aggressive manner, removing fast straps applied by officers before threatening to harm himself, striking his head against the vehicle and uttering threats of violence towards police.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said: “You are only 26 years of age and yet you seem to have reached the age whereby you are unable to comply with the civil laws of our society. There is no option other than to look at custodial sentences.”

Ross was given consecutive prison sentences for the offences, and a separate offence from December 2019, and must spend a total of 26 months behind bars.

He was also handed a 10-month supervision order.

Sheriff Hendry added: “This is intended to help you, not to punish you.”