A man who charged at a police officer after a night of drinking and taking legal highs had to be restrained with CS spray.
Stephen Lumgair was talking “gibberish” and had a heart rate of 196 beats per minute – about twice the normal level – when he was stopped in his tracks on March 10.
He admitted attacking one of the officers and attempting to assault his colleague when he appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court yesterday
The court heard the 39-year-old was no stranger to illegal substances, but that he had not taken the legal highs voluntarily and had never experienced anything like their effect before.
Lumgair, whose address was given as 7 Gordon Crescent, Inverurie, had left a property near Ardallie to get some fresh air when he was reported to the police for acting “suspiciously” and behaving in a “fairly odd” manner.
When officers arrived, he charged at one swinging his arms in a windmill-type action before being restrained by the CS spray.
He then attempted to headbutt the arresting officer.
Solicitor Sam Milligan said his client had run at the officer because he believed he was armed and his family were in danger.
“It is conceded that alcohol was taken the previous night and early morning,” Mr Milligan said.
“He seems to believe the officer has a gun and is threatening his family.”
Me Milligan said Lumgair had not taken the legal highs deliberately and his heartbeat was racing when he was detained.
“Mr Lumgair is no innocent abroad when it comes to illegal substances,” he added.
“He tells me he has never experienced something like that before.”
Sheriff Andrew Miller sentenced Lumgair to 60 hours of work in the community and told him he was lucky to avoid a hefty financial penalty.
He said: “Ordinarily, your conduct in assaulting these two police officers, which thankfully did not result in any injury to anyone, would have resulted in a fairly significant fine.”
Last month, a 16-year-old was admadmitted snorting legal highs and threatening a woman in Fraserburgh.
The teenager claimed he wanted the woman’s phone to contact an ambulance and compared the experience to playing a video game.
The teenager, a first time offender, was admonished.
