Man claimed he was Messiah and set himself on fire

A man with mental health problems proclaimed he was the Messiah and set fire to himself in a taxi, Inverness Sheriff Court has heard.

When the police were contacted Steven Hendry attacked an officer who approached him in Inverness High Street and punched him repeatedly about the head on November 3.

His solicitor John McColl told the court Hendry had set fire to his trousers in the taxi in which he had been travelling and police were contacted.

In an earlier incident on October 20, Hendry, who had been detained in connection with another matter, struggled and lashed with officers at Burnett Road police station and defecated as officers tried to get him into custody clothing.

Depute Fiscal Heather Swan told Sheriff Margaret Neilson police attended the incident in Inverness about 5pm and one of the police officers exited the police car and spoke to Hendry who threw a punch striking him on the face.

"This stunned him causing him to fall back," said the fiscal, and Hendry continued to punch the officer another four or five times.

A colleague deployed CS gas spray and Hendry was arrested. No serious injury resulted from the attack.

On October 20 the fiscal said Hendry had been transferred to Burnett Road Police Station from Tain and he refused to answer questions.

"He was taken to a police cell to have his clothing removed and to provide him with custody clothing. He became violent and lashed out,"

Hendry, (41), of Diriebught Road, Inverness admitted on November 3 assaulting PC Matthew Cameron by punching him on the head to his injury and on October 20 at Burnett Road Police Station having been detained, he resisted, obstructed, molested and hindered police officers, lashed out and struggled with them and defecated in order to cause annoyance.

Mr McColl told the court Hendry had mental health problems which can be controlled when he is on medication.

He said he was a highly intelligent individual who gained five Highers and a degree in business studies.

Psychiatrists said his mental health problems were a result of alcohol and drug abuse.

Mr McColl said Hendry perceived some sort of threat when he was stopped by the police in Inverness High Street and he hit the officer.

"Prior to being taking into custody he was a passenger in a taxi and it’s to do with what he is said to have done police wanted to interview him."

Mr McColl said the taxi driver knew Hendry’s mother and was aware of his mental health problems.

"In the taxi he proclaimed he was the Messiah and set fire to his trousers," said Mr McColl.

The solicitor said although psychiatrists stated his difficulties were a result of his alcohol and drug abuse. Mr McColl said Hendry clearly had significant mental health problems.

"Someone who proclaims to be the Messiah and is going to set fire to himself - these are not the actions of someone with a rational mind."

Sheriff Neilson said the circumstances of the case were unusual and for the reasons presented by Hendry’s solicitor she jailed him for two months on the police assault back-dated to November 5 and admonished him on the offences committed at Burnett Road Police Station.

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