A teen got so drunk at Aboyne Highland Games that he punched a police officer in the face.
Brodie Paterson was reported to police officers after being found so intoxicated he was “unable to walk” at the popular event last summer.
The 19-year-old, who was 18 at the time, inexplicably became abusive towards the officers as they tried to help him get home safely.
Officers at Aboyne Highland Games ‘were just doing their job’
Paterson punched one officer in the face and had to be repeatedly warned about offensive, homophobic comments.
Fiscal depute Alan Townsend told Aberdeen Sheriff Court police were notified of Paterson’s condition around 8pm on August 5 2022 and traced him inside a hut half an hour later.
The court heard he appeared “extremely drunk” at the Aboyne Highland Games, which was making a comeback after a two-year Covid hiatus.
Officers carried out a system check and spoke to Paterson’s mother, who provided his father’s address where he could be taken.
Paterson then had to be dragged to a police vehicle as he was either unwilling or unable to walk.
‘This behaviour is quite disgusting’
However, Paterson then stepped past a friend and “threw a punch” at one of the officers, striking him in the face.
Despite the attack, officers decided they would still take Paterson back to his dad’s address, but had to give him repeated warnings over homophobic comments, including calling one of them a “dirty f*****”.
He was eventually left in the care of his father, but not before being cautioned and charged over his behaviour.
In response, Paterson said: “Haha, I punched the police officer in the face.”
Paterson, of Formaston Park, Aboyne, pled guilty to assault and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
Defence agent Iain Hingston said his client appeared with no previous convictions and insisted the offences were “entirely out of character”.
‘In your hands what happens next’
He added it was a “matter of profound embarrassment” to Paterson.
Mr Hingston went on: “The officers were just doing their job and he accepts they did not deserve to be treated in that way.
“He was spectacularly drunk”.
Sheriff Craig Findlater told Paterson: “This behaviour is quite disgusting as, in fairness to you, you acknowledge.”
He deferred sentencing for six months for Paterson to behave and prove the matter was a one-off.
He warned: “It’s very much in your hands what happens next.”
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