A tourist who brought the A9 to a standstill during a bizarre drunken rampage was found by police topless in a nearby field “shouting at sheep”.
Thomas Degnan lurched onto the busy dual carriageway near Gleneagles, causing motorists to pump the brakes to avoid a collision.
The 42-year-old had earlier urinated onto a nine-year-old child before making his way onto the road, Perth Sheriff Court heard.
Sheriff Francis Gill told him: “The behaviour in this incident was appalling.
“It will have caused trauma to the young child involved.”
He said: “It is also by good fortune that your actions did not cause harm to the drivers who had to swerve to avoid you.
“It is a concern that you are not able to offer any insight or understanding into your behaviour or its impact.”
Degnan was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work and placed on supervision for a year to deal with alcohol abuse issues.
Urinated on child
The court heard that customers at the Loaninghead filling station saw Degnan arguing with his partner.
Fiscal depute Bill Kermode told the court: “(The partner) was clearly upset.
“One witness went into the shop at the filling station and asked staff to contact the police.”
He said: “Mr Degnan was then seen to go to the rear of a car and start urinating.
“While continuing to urinate, he walked to the rear of the car and opened a door.”
The court heard he urinated into the vehicle and onto a shocked child sitting inside.
The car then drove off, and Degnan staggered into the filling station shop.
Cars took evasive action
“It became obvious to witnesses that the accused was under the influence,” said Mr Kermode.
“He was shouting incoherently as he stumbled onto the A9, causing vehicles to swerve, slow down and stop.
“He made his way to the central reservation before falling to the ground.”
Degnan picked himself up and began walking back to the filling station, the court heard.
“He again caused vehicles to take evasive action,” said Mr Kermode.
“A staff member began to signal drivers to slow down to avoid an accident.”
Breach of the fleece
The fiscal depute said that by the time police arrived, Degnan was in a nearby field.
“He was found topless and shouting at sheep,” Mr Kermode said.
“He was clearly under the influence and was struggling to walk.”
Degnan, of Cranhill, Glasgow, admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner at Loaninghead Filling Station, on the A9 near Gleneagles and in an adjacent field on May 28, last year.
Solicitor Pauline Cullerton said Degnan had no memory of the incident.
He may have been affected by medication he was taking for a sore foot, combined with alcohol, she said.
“Mr Degnan and his partner are working things out,” Ms Cullerton told the court.
“They are in a much better place than they were at this time.”
She said that her client had not touched alcohol since his arrest.
