Two police officers gassed themselves with CS spray during the arrest of a former wrestler in the Western Isles.

Within seconds of entering 61-year-old William Hollister’s caravan in South Uist, the former wrestler had caught one of the officers in a headlock.

Both officers used their CS spray but it affected them as badly as their target, Lochmaddy Sheriff Court was told.

Hollister, of Lochboisdale, said he feared hitmen had come for him, claiming the officers barged into his caravan last September without identifying themselves.

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Giving evidence, he said: “I thought they were my ex-wife’s brothers. I just panicked. I didn’t know if they were hitmen.”

North Uist police sergeant Angus Morrison said: “I have dealt with serious criminals in my 18 years police service and never had cause to use CS spray before.”

Following the incident, paramedics were called and Hollister was taken to hospital with chest problems. He later promised to appear in court voluntarily, where he was found guilty of the headlock assault and violently resisting arrest.

He was acquitted of a charge of sitting on top of one officer and hitting him with his elbow due to the lack of corroboration as the only potential witness was face-down in a headlock at the time.

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The original charge of assault which sent the officers to his caravan was found not proven.

Sheriff Chris Dickson, who deferred sentence for six months, said: “I see you were going through difficulties at the time but your behaviour was not acceptable.”