An Angus man and woman have been given unpaid work orders for their involvement in a town centre melee involving assaults on an innocent 14-year-old and a police officer.
The teenager was waiting to be picked up after attending Montrose YM when she had the misfortune to encounter Samantha Forsyth and Thomas Simpson in the town’s High Street in April 2016.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told Forfar sheriff court the incident happened as the girl and a pal waited for a pre-arranged 9.30pm collection by her father.
Simpson, who appeared to be drunk, approached the youngster but as she moved away from him he appeared to get angry and when she turned her back he kicked her to the back of the leg.
“He then apologised and asked her to sit down. She told him she was only 14 and that her dad would be arriving imminently,” the fiscal added.
As she was being driven away, the girl told her father what had happened and he went back to the area to try to find Simpson.
The father then challenged the accused over his behaviour, and when his daughter left the vehicle she was approached by Forsyth, who got involved in a struggle with the teenager and slapped her once to the face.
Other parties attempted to intervene and the disturbance was reported to police by a member of the public.
The fiscal then told the court that a number of police officers arrived and were met by “many drunk and uncooperative persons.”
Simpson refused to calm down and was arrested, and on the journey to Arbroath police station repeatedly threatened to kill himself and officers, as well as striking his head on the car window.
Forsyth was also arrested at the scene after rushing up to one police officer and pushing him from behind.
Forsyth, 28, and Simpson, 24, both of Newton Crescent, Arbroath appeared before Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown for sentence having previously admitted charges including breach of the peace and assault.
Soilcitor Grant Bruce, for Forsyth, said: “This happened in 2016 and there are no other outstanding matters.
“She regrets this and accepts she should not have become involved.”
Simpson’s lawyer, Brian Bell said: “I make no attempt to minimise this offence, but it is perhaps lucky for both accused that a period of nearly two years has passed without further difficulties.”
Sheriff Martin-Brown imposed a one-year Community Payback Order on Simpson, including 100 hours unpaid work.
The sheriff told Forsyth: “In addition to assaulting the 14-year-old, you also assaulted a police officer, which is a serious matter.”
She also received a 12-month CPO, with a requirement to carry out 135 hours unpaid work.
