Bad trip student took mind-bending LSD and tried to bite two Edinburgh constables

A university student who attempted to bite two police officers while high on LSD has been handed an absolute discharge - in a bid to save his future career as a teacher.

Bad trip: Michael McCrory

Michael McCrory and some friends decided to take an acid tablet in July last year after watching a TV programme about hallucinogenic drugs.

After taking the mind-bending narcotic, McCrory, 21, was then found wandering in an Edinburgh park a few hours later by two police officers and was said to be “staring blankly” and unresponsive.

As the Edinburgh University student was being led into the back of a police van he tried to sink his teeth into one officer’s head and bite the second on the leg.

McCrory pleaded guilty to assaulting PCs David Dundas and Callam McNeill when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in November and he returned for sentencing today.

Lawyer Matthew Nicholson, defending, had previously told Sheriff Adrian Cottam his client was in his third year of a masters course in physical education and is currently training to be a high school PE teacher.

Mr Nicholson said any conviction for violence would prompt an investigation into his conduct by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

He said McCrory, originally from the Aberdeen area, had saved up cash from his employment and was due to make a payment to the Scottish Police Benevolent Fund (SPBF).

The SPBF is the official charity of Police Scotland and delivers benevolent and welfare services to improve the quality of life of its membership who are in conditions of need.

Sheriff Cottam was unavailable for the hearing but had left notes on the case for his stand in, Sheriff John Mundy.

Sheriff Mundy said he was content to follow his colleague’s recommendation of dealing with the case by way of an absolute discharge - a move which leaves the student without a criminal record.

Previously, the court was told McCrory consumed the LSD on the morning of July 24 last year and was found by the two officers on the city’s Bruntsfield Links at around 12.40pm.

He then became involved in a struggle with the constables and as he was being escorted towards the police van he tried to bite PC Dundas to the face.

McCrory then attempted to bite PC McNeill on the leg and the officers were forced to place a spit hood over McCrory’s head to stop any further attacks.

The court was told PC Dundas was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment to bruising and swelling after he had banged his head on the police van door during the incident.

McCrory, of Bruntsfield, Edinburgh, was also taken to the hospital after the officers learned what drug he had taken.

Previously Mr Nicholson had said McCrory and his pals had taken the drug as an “experiment” after watching a television programme and had no memory of the incident with the police.

McCrory pleaded guilty to assaulting PC David Dundas and PC Callam McNeill by attempting to bite them at Bruntsfield Links, Edinburgh, on July 24 last year.

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