A teenager tipped to have a brilliant military career has been called “horrible” by a sheriff after he admitted punching, kicking and spitting at a trainee paramedic.
Connor Herman, 19, lashed out at the paramedic as they tried to prevent him falling down a flight of stairs after he had drunk himself into a stupor.
At Perth Sheriff Court yesterday, Sheriff Gillian Wade told Herman he was a very intelligent person with an extremely bright future – if he could turn his life around.
She said: “People in the Army are saying that you could have such a good career that you can reach the top level.
“You shouldn’t be spitting at the ambulance service staff, you should be working with them. You should not be here at all.
“That must have been a horrible experience for a trainee paramedic – somebody doing something good in the community.
“That makes you pretty horrible, which is very, very disappointing. You must give yourself a shake and get back on track.”
She added: “When you drink, things go dramatically wrong and alcohol is putting your liberty in jeopardy.”
The court was told paramedic trainee Alasdair Fyfe was part of a team called out to help Herman when he was found unconscious in a stairwell.
Depute fiscal Catriona MacQueen said: “They found the accused face down and unresponsive. The student paramedic carried out the routine checks.
“As they prepared to move the accused, he looked at the student paramedic and lashed out with his feet and fists in an effort to hit him.
“The paramedic backed off and activated his personal panic alarm. Another member of ambulance staff heard shouts for help.
“Both were trying to prevent the accused from falling down the stairs, but he continued to lash out with his feet and fists and he was spitting on the student paramedic.”
Herman, of Angus Court, Perth, admitted assaulting Mr Fyfe by repeatedly kicking and punching him on the body and spitting at him in Closeburn Terrace, Perth, on December 22.
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: “He has greatly changed his outlook. He has had very positive feedback and is determined to join the Army at the first opportunity.
“He has been doing his best to turn things around. He was extremely drunk.”
Sheriff Wade deferred sentence for the preparation of reports, telling Herman: “Your offending is serious. If you spend a period in custody your chance of getting in the Army and turning things around will be limited.”
