Man who starred in show about multi-million-pound business attacked police officer

A Scots businessman who starred in a TV show about his multi-million-pound recycling firm has admitted attacking a police officer.

Owen Ritchie, 32, attacked PC Alan Gilfillan at his flat in Partick on April 8, 2024.

Police had turned up at Ritchie’s home after a neighbour overheard him shouting for help.

Officers had to use a taser on Ritchie – described as speaking incoherently – before he grabbed PC Gilfillan.

He went on to pull the constable to the floor, causing him to suffer a dislocated shoulder.

Ritchie admitted assaulting PC Gilfillan to his severe injury as he appeared in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

In 2020, Ritchie and his now-deceased father, Tom, appeared on the Channel 5 series The Secret World of Your Rubbish.

Cameras followed the pair at their Clyde Recycling firm.

The successful business collects second-hand clothes from containers and charity shops across the country before exporting them abroad.

The court heard how Ritchie was overheard by a neighbour “shouting and banging” in his flat around 2.50pm that day before a 999 call was made.

Officers arrived to find Ritchie, who was “agitated, unusual and speaking incoherently”.

Ritchie stated: “What have I done? Let me figure this out.”

Police had to end up using a taser on him, which initially had little effect.

Fiscal Megan Dow said: “He struggled with PC Gilfillan and, in doing so, seized him by the neck and pulled him to the floor.

“This caused the officer to suffer a dislocated shoulder, and he had to receive medical treatment.”

Donald Findlay KC, defending, told the court that Ritchie’s firm started as a family business and now employs 50 people full-time.

The advocate added: “The turnover of the business is into the millions of pounds a year.

“What the business does is buy the clothing containers from charities and recycles them.

“Last year alone, the Salvation Army and other charities benefited in the region of £500,000.

“The business organises all of the recycling for those who need it in various troubled spots – notably Africa – and is in regular contact with government agencies.

“His father was the driving force behind the business, and a number of years ago, he died unexpectedly, as did his brother, who was involved in the business.

“The date of the incident was the anniversary of the birth of his late father – they were very close – and on the days leading up to it, he was struggling.

“On that weekend, he had far too much to drink.

“He asked me to convey his fullest regret and apologies to the police officer concerned.

“This was a different man to the man who does good things and helps a lot of people – he got it badly wrong.

“The likelihood is that you won’t see him here again – it is definitely a one-off.”

Sheriff Jonathan Guy ordered Ritchie to do 100 hours of unpaid work and made a compensation order of £3,000 to PC Gilfillan which is an “alternative to custody”.

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