INVERNESS SHERIFF COURT: Offender told to save hard to compensate policeman and taxi driver he assaulted
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A police constable suffered six months of memory loss and recurring headaches after a head-butt left him semi-conscious.
Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald was told the constable had been signed off work twice since the assault in Mayfield Road, Inverness on September 25 last year and is still on light duties.
Thomas Stewart (27) of Druid Road, Inverness, had earlier pleaded guilty to assaulting the officer to his injury and permanent impairment.
He also admitted repeatedly punching and injuring a taxi driver prior to attacking the policeman.
Sentence had been deferred for a background report.
Defence solicitor advocate Neil Wilson asked the sheriff not to jail his client, who is currently on two community payback orders.
He said: “He has 59 hours outstanding on his orders and his compliance has improved substantially over the past few months. He at last seems to have seen the light that he cannot keep behaving like this.
“He accepts he cannot continue binge drinking as he gets into a state where he does not know what he is doing. I am asking for an opportunity for him.”
Fiscal depute David Morton told the court the taxi driver had stopped at the junction of Culduthel Road and Old Edinburgh Road because Stewart was standing in the middle of the road, shouting at the car in front.
The court heard Stewart turned his attention to the cab when the other vehicle drove round him.
“He opened the door and repeatedly punched the driver on the face,” he said. “He then grabbed his jacket and threw it on the ground. The driver had swelling to his right eye and a cut nose.
“He suffered from blurred vision and floaters in his eyes, and because it was unsafe for him to drive, he was off work for a month.”
Police were called and Stewart was found in nearby Mayfield Road.
“Stewart was told he was under arrest but he pulled back and head-butted the constable who was able to call for assistance before falling to the ground semi-conscious.”
Stewart was arrested after a PAVA spray was deployed and the injured constable had a CT scan which revealed a concussion.
“He returned to work in March this year but can’t recall his day to day life for six months after the assault,” Mr Morton said.
Deferring sentence until December 12 for good behaviour, a new report and time to save, Sheriff Macdonald told Stewart: “It was a vicious violent assault. I was almost sending you to prison today for a significant period to stop your cycle of offending.
“But I have been persuaded by Mr Wilson and I am prepared to give you one chance. You will do the outstanding hours and put money aside for compensation for the two people you assaulted – as much as you can if you don’t want to spend Christmas in jail.”
