A Dundee man assaulted a dental nurse who was conducting a check-up on him.
Darren Binnie repeatedly apologised in court for grabbing the woman by the waist.
He claimed he thought the pair were engaged in “banter” and he was “dancing” to music he said was playing in the mobile dental unit.
It was providing dental examinations to homeless people in the city centre in April last year.
He said he had consumed a quantity of Valium before the appointment.
‘Just a joke’
Dundee Sheriff Court heard the van was parked outside the Old Steeple, close to the Overgate.
The incident took place at around 10am, with the complainer — a dental nurse — and a second witness administering the procedures.
Binnie was sitting in the dentist chair when the nurse came to take an impression.
She was standing in front of him as he lay in the chair.
The court heard he then grabbed her by the waist with both hands.
The dental nurse asked Binnie to remove his hands immediately, which he did.
Police were called and in relation to being cautioned and charged, Binnie responded “it was just a joke”.
Took Valium
In mitigation, defence solicitor Ian Houston said: “He was receiving treatment, he was being overly familiar.
“He perceived it to be banter.
“He thinks there was music playing and he pretended he was going to have a dance.
“He had taken Valium.
“He was told to remove his hands and he did.”
Binnie, of Ward Road, Dundee, admitted assaulting the NHS dental nurse on April 26 2021 at the Old Steeple Church in the city centre.
Sheriff John Rafferty fined him £225.
On the suggestion he write a letter of apology to the nurse, Sheriff Rafferty said he felt the lady would rather “not be reminded” of the incident and recommended Binnie did not.
Previous offence
In December, Binnie was in court for brandishing a bottle at two teenagers outside the Overgate in Dundee.
He said they had called him a “junkie”.
