A tranquil early morning in Perth city centre was shattered by an aggressive and deeply offensive confrontation involving a visiting boxer from Somerset. Daniel Guthrie, 43, found himself in court facing charges after his actions led to a volatile encounter with local police, who were subjected to both physical and verbal assaults, including shocking homophobic and xenophobic slurs.
The incident unfolded just after 4 am on September 4, 2022, when police were dispatched to a report of an “aggressive male” at a taxi rank, a common hub of activity in Perth. Upon their arrival, officers spotted Guthrie attempting to flee. His escape route, however, led him down a dead-end alleyway—a common feature in many historic Scottish towns, including Perth.
Cornered, Guthrie’s demeanour turned from evasion to outright hostility. He adopted an aggressive stance before lunging forward in an attempt to strike one of the officers. As the two constables moved to restrain and handcuff him, the situation escalated further. Guthrie made an alarming attempt to bite another officer, demonstrating a disturbing level of resistance and aggression against those tasked with maintaining public safety.
The physical struggle quickly morphed into a torrent of verbal abuse. Guthrie unleashed a barrage of offensive language that was not only expletive but also explicitly targeted. He subjected the officers to homophobic insults, shouting, “F*** you, f******,” and cruelly adding, “You both have sex with men you f***ing p****.” This deeply personal and prejudiced attack continued as he was transported to Dundee police headquarters, where he further exacerbated his misconduct with xenophobic comments. He reportedly yelled, “You can get f***ed you dirty black f***ers,” and, in a particularly egregious remark directed at one officer, called him a “dirty Scottish c***.”
Guthrie later appeared at Perth Sheriff Court, where he formally admitted his guilt to two distinct charges of police assault and a single count of threatening or abusive behaviour. The latter charge was significantly aggravated by evidence of prejudice relating to sexual orientation, highlighting the hateful nature of his outburst.
During the court proceedings, his solicitor, Linda Clark, acknowledged the unacceptable nature of Mr. Guthrie’s behaviour, noting that, fortunately, no serious physical injuries were sustained by the officers. She also informed the court that Guthrie had already spent 25 days on remand, a period equivalent to a 50-day custodial sentence.
However, Sheriff Mark Stewart KC did not mince words in his condemnation of Guthrie’s actions. He sternly addressed the boxer, stating that his behaviour was “totally unacceptable” and “reprehensible.” The Sheriff underscored the fundamental right of police officers to carry out their duties without enduring such “vile” abuse. He further remarked on what he perceived as an “entrenched” attitude and a belief in entitlement, warning Guthrie that if he continued to behave in this manner, he would “almost certainly end up in custody.” This serves as a stark reminder that even visitors to our community are subject to the same laws and expectations of respect for emergency services.
In light of his admissions and the circumstances, Guthrie, whose address was given as Kingston, Yeovil, was placed under supervision for 18 months. His departure from the dock, where he was heard telling court staff to “Take care everyone, cheers,” suggested a disconcerting nonchalance following the grave nature of his offences and the strong judicial rebuke he received. Such incidents, while hopefully isolated, serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by police officers on the front lines and the importance of upholding respect and dignity within our community, especially in public spaces like Perth city centre.
The incident unfolded just after 4 am on September 4, 2022, when police were dispatched to a report of an “aggressive male” at a taxi rank, a common hub of activity in Perth. Upon their arrival, officers spotted Guthrie attempting to flee. His escape route, however, led him down a dead-end alleyway—a common feature in many historic Scottish towns, including Perth.
Cornered, Guthrie’s demeanour turned from evasion to outright hostility. He adopted an aggressive stance before lunging forward in an attempt to strike one of the officers. As the two constables moved to restrain and handcuff him, the situation escalated further. Guthrie made an alarming attempt to bite another officer, demonstrating a disturbing level of resistance and aggression against those tasked with maintaining public safety.
The physical struggle quickly morphed into a torrent of verbal abuse. Guthrie unleashed a barrage of offensive language that was not only expletive but also explicitly targeted. He subjected the officers to homophobic insults, shouting, “F*** you, f******,” and cruelly adding, “You both have sex with men you f***ing p****.” This deeply personal and prejudiced attack continued as he was transported to Dundee police headquarters, where he further exacerbated his misconduct with xenophobic comments. He reportedly yelled, “You can get f***ed you dirty black f***ers,” and, in a particularly egregious remark directed at one officer, called him a “dirty Scottish c***.”
Guthrie later appeared at Perth Sheriff Court, where he formally admitted his guilt to two distinct charges of police assault and a single count of threatening or abusive behaviour. The latter charge was significantly aggravated by evidence of prejudice relating to sexual orientation, highlighting the hateful nature of his outburst.
During the court proceedings, his solicitor, Linda Clark, acknowledged the unacceptable nature of Mr. Guthrie’s behaviour, noting that, fortunately, no serious physical injuries were sustained by the officers. She also informed the court that Guthrie had already spent 25 days on remand, a period equivalent to a 50-day custodial sentence.
However, Sheriff Mark Stewart KC did not mince words in his condemnation of Guthrie’s actions. He sternly addressed the boxer, stating that his behaviour was “totally unacceptable” and “reprehensible.” The Sheriff underscored the fundamental right of police officers to carry out their duties without enduring such “vile” abuse. He further remarked on what he perceived as an “entrenched” attitude and a belief in entitlement, warning Guthrie that if he continued to behave in this manner, he would “almost certainly end up in custody.” This serves as a stark reminder that even visitors to our community are subject to the same laws and expectations of respect for emergency services.
In light of his admissions and the circumstances, Guthrie, whose address was given as Kingston, Yeovil, was placed under supervision for 18 months. His departure from the dock, where he was heard telling court staff to “Take care everyone, cheers,” suggested a disconcerting nonchalance following the grave nature of his offences and the strong judicial rebuke he received. Such incidents, while hopefully isolated, serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by police officers on the front lines and the importance of upholding respect and dignity within our community, especially in public spaces like Perth city centre.