Policeman suffered memory loss after being head-butted Inverness Sheriff Court is told
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The officer was left lying semi-conscious after the attack and also suffers recurring headaches.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that 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.
In the dock was Thomas Stewart (27), of Druid Road, Inverness, who pleaded guilty to assaulting the officer to his injury and permanent impairment.
Stewart also admitted repeatedly punching and injuring a taxi driver prior to attacking the policeman.
As Stewart is currently on two community payback orders sentence was deferred until August 15 for a background report.
His bail was continued by Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald who warned Stewart that a prison sentence would be under consideration.
Fiscal depute David Morton told the court that 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 that 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,” Mr Morton 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,” Mr Morton said, adding that Stewart was arrested after a PAVA spray was deployed.
The injured constable had a CT scan which revealed a concussion, the after-effects of which are still ongoing. He returned to work in March.
