A man who assaulted police officers and a paramedic and caused a disturbance in a Highland hospital was yesterday jailed for almost nine months.
Liam Johnstone, 23, of 2 Campbell Court, Fort William, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing at the town’s sheriff court to assaulting a paramedic by kicking him on his arm and assaulting two police officers by spitting at them at his home address.
He also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at Belford Hospital and while travelling between the hospital and the police station by continually shouting and swearing at police officers and hospital staff, making threats to injure himself and to kill police officers and the sheriff.
All three offences were committed on March 22 this year.
Defence solicitor Gerry Sweeney his client was voluntarily admitted to New Craigs Psychiatric Hospital in Inverness, but asked to leave when he returned to the hospital “under the influence”.
Mr Sweeney said: “This young man is not well. I think that is indisputable. No one would have done what he did in a balanced condition.
“It’s very difficult to break this cycle, but he does present as a young man who needs help.”
Sheriff Richard Davidson told Johnstone: “There is no doubt that you have an inherently difficult medical condition to have to deal with, but you don’t help yourself by taking narcotics.
“This is your second conviction under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005.
“We simply can’t tolerate your engaging in violent behaviour towards other people.”
He sentenced Johnstone to a total of 262 days imprisonment.
