Jailed for eight months after police threat

An Orkney resident has been jailed for eight months after threatening police officers that they would suffer the same fate as Constable David Rathband, who was shot and blinded by Raoul Moat in Newcastle, in 2010.

Wick Sheriff Court heard that Carl Howley’s threat was made at Kirkwall police station on October 27 – ten days after he had been released from custody.

Howley, 28, admitted threatening or abusive behaviour, the court hearing that he had originally appeared at Kirkwall Sheriff Court but had been transferred to Wick because of an unfinished matter involving the Caithness court.

Sentencing Howley, Sheriff Andrew Berry said: “The threat you made was outrageous, unforgivable and chilling. You have a truly appalling record of offending and the only appropriate sentence I can impose is one of imprisonment.”