Shocked passers-by came to the rescue of two Arbroath tanning salon staff when they came under attack from a man whose drink-fuelled birthday celebrations had spiralled out of control.
Vitalijis Krainovs was wandering through Fisheracre shortly before 8pm on May 23, last year, when he went into the Sun Shack premises.
Forfar Sheriff Court heard a concerned female employee went over to the 39-year-old to make sure he was okay, but as she was ushering him out, Krainovs grabbed her by the clothing, catching her hair in the process.
Depute fiscal Laura McGillvery said: “Another employee intervened at that point, fearing for the safety of her colleague and pushed the accused off her.
“The accused turned and punched her on the jaw/cheek area with his right fist.”
Two men who were passing and saw the incident restrained Krainovs until police arrived.
He was found to have a cut on his head and the court heard Krainovs then kicked off with officers in a lengthy display of erratic behaviour at Arbroath infirmary.
The fiscal added: “He was initially calm and compliant, but as time went on is behaviour fluctuated.
“He had taken a dislike to one of the police officers and lashed out at him with his fists in the hospital.
“He would go from shaking hands with them to lashing out moments later.”
Almost three hours after the tanning salon incident, Krainovs flared up again and struggled with the two police officers, leading to his arrest.
Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said his client had lived in the UK for 10 years and had only a speeding conviction from 2014.
Unemployed Krainovs, of Leonard Street, Arbroath, admitted charges of assault and struggling with police on May 23 last year and Sheriff Derek Reekie warned the accused he was at risk of going to jail.
“This is a serious matter and, in my view, the custody threshold has been met for assaulting two ladies at their work and the offences against the police.
“The fact that you don’t recall what happened due to the amount of drink you had taken on your birthday reflects very badly on you.
“You are then taken to hospital to try to help you and you struggle and attempt to strike two officers.”
Krainovs was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work under a nine-month Communty Payback Order.
