A BORDERS man has admitted culpable and reckless conduct by spitting towards a police constable during the COVID pandemic and exposing him to the risk of injury.

Fifty-three-year-old Keith Beveridge, of Jedburgh, pleaded guilty to the offence which happened at his home in Bongate on November 23 and in a police van en-route to Borders General Hospital.

He also admitted another charge of threatening or abusive behaviour and threatening violence to police officers.

Jedburgh Sheriff Court was told Beveridge became upset when officers arrived at his home at nine o'clock in the evening to check if he was adhering to his bail conditions.

He swore at them repeatedly and approached their vehicle and said he was going to kill himself.

In his home and in the police van he spat towards a police officer several times but depute fiscal Alison Atkins said they did not connect.

She added: "This was during the COVID pandemic, increasing the concerns of the police."

Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence until October 25 for the production of background reports.