Man in court over ‘stabbing attack’ on police officer

A homeless man has appeared in court in connection with an alleged stabbing attack on a police officer.

Jack Barrett, 31, appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court on Monday to face two charges of theft and attempted murder.

Barrett, who is homeless, did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody.

He is due to appear in court again in eight days.

Barrett was arrested in Rhu Marina, Helensburgh, in the early hours of Sunday following a disturbance in East India Harbour, Greenock, Inverclyde, where a police officer was injured.

Police attended at about 2am after being alerted to calls of concern for a man at East India Harbour.

One police officer was stabbed in a “disturbance”, and the suspect allegedly fled in a dinghy before being arrested at Rhu Marina near Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, on the opposite side of the Firth of Clyde, according to Police Scotland.

The victim was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for treatment for a stab wound, where his condition was described as stable, and he later was released on Monday.

Police Scotland praised the “incredible bravery and professionalism” of the injured officer and said there was “no risk” to the public.