A NOTORIOUS Johnstone thug facing jail for spitting on a police officer in a rammy with cops in his home street will have to wait to learn his fate.

Raymond 'Raymie' Docherty, of McDowall Street, lost the plot with Police Scotland officers on Tuesday, January 29, this year.

The 24-year-old, who has been caged in the past for previous assaults, clashed with Police Constables Mark Halliday and Ian Brown amid claims he jumped out of a window in his house and tried to escape from them in a bid to pervert the course of justice.

Once the officers caught up with him, Docherty lashed out with his arms and legs and struggled violently with them - then assaulted PC Halliday by spitting on his head and body.

Docherty was held in police custody over his actions and admitted his guilt when he appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court last month.

He pleaded guilty to resisting, obstructing or hindering the officers, and assaulting PC Halliday, while his not guilty plea was accepted to a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Sheriff Moira MacKenzie opted not to hear the facts of the case - and warned Docherty he could be jailed as she deferred sentence for background reports to be prepared.

She said: "All sentencing options are open to the court.

"With some considerable hesitation I'm going to release you on bail."

But when he returned to the dock on Tuesday to learn his fate, it emerged a crucial background report had not been prepared by social workers.

As he further deferred sentence until next month for that report to be prepared, Sheriff Seith Ireland said: "There may be some useful information about your background to assist the court in making a proper and just disposal in your case."