A thug who bit an Aberdeen police officer has been saved from a jail sentence – because he wasn’t wearing his false teeth.

Wojciech Samp, 35, was warned by Sheriff William Summers that he would have been jailed if the officer, who escaped unscathed, had sustained any injury.

Samp told a social worker before the court hearing he believed he was not wearing his dentures at the time.

Sheriff Summers ordered him to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and be supervised for 18 months instead of sending him to prison.

Depute fiscal Lynzi Souter told Aberdeen Sheriff Court Samp found himself in custody after a row at his council-managed accommodation on West North Street in the city.

He threatened to burn the building down with an employee inside on December 30.

Mrs Souter said: “Police were contacted. They attended and the accused was arrested.

“He was taken to Kittybrewster custody suite and when there he threw his head towards an officer in an attempt to headbutt him.

“Some time later, while at the charge bar, the accused’s behaviour meant he was being taken to a cell.

“While being taken to a cell he bit the officer on the wrist. No injury was caused.”

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Samp, whose address was given as care of his solicitor’s office, pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and assaulting a police officer.

Defence agent Andrew Ormiston said his client had “no recollection” of the incident involving the officer, but added: “He wears dentures. At that point he didn’t think he had his dentures in.”

He went on: “It’s clear that Mr Samp has, in the past, had difficulties with alcohol consumption.”