An armed forces veteran struggling with alcohol addiction trashed a bar and crashed his car while fleeing police.
Terry Brannan wrecked the Aberdeen hotel bar by throwing stools around and challenging patrons and staff to a fight.
And just a month before that incident the 37-year-old had been caught after fleeing from police at speed before crashing his car into a wall on the Lang Stracht.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told that his alcohol issues stemmed from his time serving on the front line in the British Army, from which he returned “a very damaged man”.
Fiscal depute Lydia Ross said Brannan was caught driving dangerously on May 8 last year just moments after he’d been reported to police for being aggressive with supermarket staff in Tesco on Rousay Drive.
Car hit officer then crashed into wall
She said: “He had entered the alcohol aisle and selected a crate of beer but the staff informed him he was unable to purchase the items due to his intoxication.
“The accused became confrontational and stated ‘what are you going to do about it?'”
After he shoved a worker the police were called but he drove off, only to crash moments later on the Lang Stracht.
“Police noted the vehicle was swerving on both sides of the carriageway at slow speeds before coming to a stop at traffic lights,” the fiscal added.
“Officers approached his vehicle and instructed him to get out and switch off the engine on three occasions.
“He ignored them and stamped on the accelerator, which caused his car to wheel spin and he drove off through the red light at speed, banging into the officer’s arm and narrowly avoiding running over his foot.
“He was lost to view and they then found the vehicle had collided with a stone wall on the offside pavement.”
The court then heard how just a fortnight later, on May 21, Brannan was thrown out of the Sure Hotel on the Lang Stracht for being “rowdy” towards staff there.
Still bearing a grudge, he returned two weeks later and started trouble.
Previously, the court heard how his aggressive antics were caught on security camera and by a guest, who filmed him flinging bar stools around, challenging the barmaid and guests to a fight and even trying to prise the top off of the bar.
Brannan admitted a charge of dangerous driving and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner with regards to the earlier incident, plus a further two charges of threatening or abusive behaviour at the bar.
His not guilty plea to drink-driving was accepted by the Crown.
Came back from the front line a ‘very damaged man’
His defence agent John Boyle said his client had been “addressing his alcohol issues” and had been “working hard with charities to address them”.
Sheriff David Wilkie, who was shown background reports, read of Brannan’s background in the armed forces.
He told him: “It’s important for me and all of us to recognise that the root of your troubles comes from your time in the armed forces.
“You came back from the front line a very damaged man. Now you will begin to address that constructively.
“You are a much different man now than the man you were on these two occasions.
“The court must not lose sight of the anxiety and stress you caused with these offences.
“There’s no getting away from that but we can support you with dealing with the problems that brought you here and help you back into constructive society.”
Brannan, of Summerhill Road, Aberdeen, was handed a two-year supervision order and a 12-month road ban.
He must also adhere to conduct requirements ordering him to engage with helpful services and must sit an extended test to regain his licence.
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