A drunken 16-year-old was ordered to pay £100 compensation to a doctor he assaulted when he appeared at Selkirk Sheriff Court, pictured, on Monday.
Jamie Mitchell, of Albert Place, Galashiels, admitted repeatedly shouting and swearing, and uttering threats of violence at the town’s Currie Road on July 19 last year. He also pleaded guilty to assaulting a doctor at Borders General Hospital’s accident and emergency department on the same date.
Prosecutor Tessa Bradley told how police were concerned for Mitchell’s welfare after seeing him bleeding from a head wound. He was walking with his girlfriend, with blood running down his face, and officers stopped to speak to him.
Ms Bradley went on: “They thought he was under the influence of alcohol, as he was unsteady on his feet, and he immediately began shouting obscenities at them.”
She added: “The police tried to get him to calm down, telling him he wasn’t in any trouble, but he had a cut to his head and was intoxicated, so they were concerned for his wellbeing.”
Mitchell told a police officer to “f**k off”, adding he would “kill him” when he said he was calling an ambulance.
The teenager’s girlfriend said he sustained the injury after stumbling. He was eventually arrested and taken to hospital.
The prosecutor added: “His behaviour didn’t improve and he was banging his head on the cage door.”
Rather than take him into the hospital, it was decided a doctor should examine him in the police vehicle, but Mitchell repeatedly told the doctor to “f**k off”, and then kicked him on the shin.
When he had calmed down and was eventually examined, Mitchell was found to have superficial injuries.
Following periods of deferred sentence and reports, Sheriff Peter Paterson admonished Mitchell for the threatening behaviour, but ordered he pay £100 compensation to the doctor he assaulted.
The sheriff warned the accused: “I have said it before and will say it again – assaults in hospitals are simply not acceptable.”