A 30-year-old man accused of stealing a police car and crashing it appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court today.
James Hamilton of 8 Duisdale Mor, Sleat, isle of Skye was flanked by two security guards when he stood in the dock before Sheriff Margaret Neilson to face a total of eight charges.
He was represented by Inverness solicitor Rory Gowans who asked for the case to be continued without plea for a psychiatric assessment to be carried out on his client.
An initial mental health report was submitted to Sheriff Neilson who agreed to continue the case until October 10 for the detailed assessment report.
She ordered Hamilton to be remanded into the care of New Craigs Hospital in Inverness.
The most serious charges facing Hamilton are that he assaulted Constable John MacLennan on the A832 Gorstan to Achnasheen road near Corriemoille by repeatedly punching him on the head and body to his injury and that he stole his police vehicle.
He is also charged that he drove the police car dangerously in the centre of the carriageway and caused a driver coming in the opposite direction to take evasive action to avoid a collision.
He is also accused of driving the police car too close to the rear of a preceding vehicle, whereby both vehicles were extensively damaged when they left the road, injuring both himself and the other driver.
It is also alleged that Hamilton attempted to pervert the course of justice by fleeing the scene and resisting arrest by struggling violently with two police officers.
The final three charges against Hamilton claim that he drove with no insurance, failed to stop after an accident and failed to report it.