A GANGLAND-linked tycoon forced four police officers to leave their shift after pretending to have coronavirus symptoms.

Frankie ‘Donuts’ Donaldson made the false claim while being processed at Glasgow’s Govan police station on June 18, 2020.

The 62-year-old repeatedly denied having symptoms before being interviewed and had fingerprints taken.

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He then confessed to having symptoms and missing a booked test the previous day.

The officers dealing with Donaldson were told to go home and the custody suite housing him was deep cleaned.

Donaldson pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to a single charge of breach of the peace.

The charge includes Donaldson “conducting himself in a disorderly manner, disclose he was displaying symptoms of Covid-19 when he knew this not to be true.”

Donaldson’s criminal past includes a string of attacks on his ex-girlfriend, Jane Clarke, and her sister which he received a prison sentence in 2017.

Donaldson – a close ¬associate of murdered gangster George “Goofy” Docherty - has also been the victim of several targeted knife attacks.

The court heard Donaldson attended Govan police station for a pre-arranged interview.

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Prosecutor Katie Bell said: “He was asked if he was displaying coronavirus symptoms and he said he wasn’t.

“As he was being processed, he was asked if he was suffering from symptoms and he said no.

“He was about to be interviewed and was talked there was a screen.

“He was asked if he had any symptoms and he said no.”

Donaldson’s fingerprints were taken as were photographs of him.

Miss Bell added: “Before this he was asked again for coronavirus symptoms and he said he did have symptoms.

“He said he had a test booked for the previous evening but hadn’t attended.

“As a result, the four officers, who had come into contact with him in fingerprints and interview had to be sent home.”

The custody suite at the police office was also shut down for “deep cleaning.”

Gerry Devanney, defending, told the court the police had sent his office a screenshot of a threatening text message.

The lawyer said: “The police believed this was a credible threat of violence on Mr Donaldson…it puts the matter into context.

“Mr Donaldson had previously suffered significant injuries.

“He had entered the police station (as) he was preyed upon.”

Mr Devanney told the court Donaldson’s annual earnings to be £10,000 a year.

Sheriff Diane McConnell ordered Donaldson, of the city’s Calton, to pay each of the four officers £300 in compensation.

The sheriff said: “As you know, this was at the height of the pandemic and there was uncertainty as you yourself identified and you behaved in that way.

“The officers who dealt with you must have been alarmed and distressed and I’m told they had to be sent home.”