Govanhill man ordered dog to bite police officers during arrest

A Glasgow man has admitted ordering a Staffordshire Bull Terrier to repeatedly bite police officers who were trying to arrest him.
Gordon Finlayson. (Photo: Scottish Policing News Agency )Gordon Finlayson. (Photo: Scottish Policing News Agency )
Gordon Finlayson. (Photo: Scottish Policing News Agency )

Gordon Finlayson, from Govanhill, appeared from custody at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Friday, where he pled guilty to four charges.

The 35-year-old admitted assaulting two female police officers on Cathcart Road on August 19 after they were called to the scene.

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He repeatedly kicked one female constable to her injury before repeatedly biting the other on the body.

Finlayson also pled guilty to being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control in a public place and commanding it to repeatedly bite the officers.

He also admitted assaulting a member of the public at Naveed Premier Store by seizing hold of him by the neck and punching him on the head.

No further details of the incident were read out during the short appearance but Finlayson’s defence lawyer told the court his client did not have “a great deal” of previous offending.

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Mr Kilcoyne said: “Mr Finlayson has been known to me for some time and I do know that the offences back in 2010 were alcohol related.

“Mr Finlayson has a difficulty in that when he abstains, he is a law-abiding citizen but as soon as he drinks alcohol, things go very badly wrong.

“He was in full-time employment and has been throughout his adult life but he lost his employment shortly before this.”

Sheriff Mary McCrory deferred sentence for background reports until October 18.

She said she would also decide if the dog should be destroyed at the next calling of the case.