A pair of female police officers were left concussed after being punched repeatedly by a drug-addled thug who was found sprawled on a grass verge in Montrose.
Robert Nutten had been caught shoplifting shortly before he was discovered lying on the ground on Basin View.
The 37-year-old turned violent after officers realised a warrant had been issued for Nutten’s arrest.
An incapacitant spray had to be used on Nutten in order to bring him under control.
Nutten was jailed after he admitted punching PCs Louise Sheriffs and Jane McQueen during the afternoon incident on July 19.
“In my view this is a serious assault on police officers in execution of their duties,” Sheriff Paul Brown said.
“A significant degree of harm has followed.
“This is against a background of a daunting schedule of previous convictions.
“It is clear that a prison sentence is the only appropriate disposal.”
Attacked female officers
Dundee Sheriff Court heard two officers were called to the street at around 3.20pm on the day in question, where Nutten was discovered on the grass verge.
Nutten repeatedly refused to comply with requests to remove his hands from his pockets before becoming aggressive after one of the officers grabbed his arm.
The lout said: “You try to put the f****** cuffs on me you’re getting it,” before punching PC McQueen.
Nutten then shouted at her colleague: “Do you want some of this as well?”, before repeatedly punching her left ear and the side of her face.
Prosecutor Gavin Letford said: “She felt instantly disorientated and dazed.
“The accused then turned his attention back to the first officer and punched her on the left side of the face again.
“She put her arm up and managed to press her red emergency button and restrained him onto railings, holding onto him as best she could.
“The accused was sprayed on the face with PAVA spray which caused him to bend over the railings before being restrained.”
Other officers attended and Nutten was placed in handcuffs.
Both officers injured
He apologised for assaulting the officers but said he would have behaved in the same manner had he been arrested by men.
The court heard how PC McQueen suffered bruising and swelling with an “egg-sized” lump on the left side of her face near her cheekbone.
She did not suffer any fracture but her tooth was broken and required dental treatment.
PC McQueen suffered aches, nausea and numbness with medics diagnosing her with concussion.
PC Sheriffs suffered a sore jaw and mild concussion.
‘Never hits women’ – solicitor
Previous offender Nutten, a prisoner of HMP Low Moss, pled guilty to repeatedly punching the two officers on the head on July 19.
Solicitor Grant Bruce said Nutten was suffering from compartment syndrome at the time of the offence and was using crutches.
He added how Nutten’s crutches had been taken from him after he was caught stealing from a nearby store.
Mr Bruce told the court: “He returned the goods, left the store and was in some pain because he wasn’t on medication but was taking drugs as a way of self-medicating.
“He found himself lying on the grass verge but he doesn’t know why.
“He is extremely apologetic and he very much regrets his actions.
“He normally has a very good relationship with the police and certainly never hits women.
“He’s ashamed of his action.”
Nutten was sentenced to three years in prison.
