An Angus teenager who threatened to knife two paramedics has been sent to a Young Offenders Institution for six months.
John Brand was so aggressive that they locked the door of their ambulance before driving off for their own safety.
Brand’s lawyer blamed the youth’s actions on the shock reaction to a beating.
Depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy told Forfar Sheriff Court the alarm had been raised by a member of the public just after 8pm on January 21 following a report of someone lying in Scott Street, Brechin.
”They found the accused propped up against a wall, conscious and breathing and with no immediate signs of injury,” she said.
Mrs Kennedy said the paramedics tried to carry out a further assessment but Brand became very aggressive and abusive.
”When he got to his feet they backed off. He told them ‘We’re going to play a game’ and produced a small knife with a serrated edge from his pocket,” the fiscal added.
The paramedics got into the ambulance and locked the doors, but one of the windows was partially open and Brand, who was still shouting at the men, tried to attack them through the gap.
”The paramedics contacted police and, for safety reasons, the ambulance took off, but remained in the vicinity in case it was called back. Police then arrived and he certainly didn’t co-operate with them but was eventually subdued and handcuffed.”
Defence agent Bob Bruce said his client had suffered a number of problems, including the loss of his father in a motorcycle tragedy a couple of years ago.
”He is completely and genuinely contrite about what happened, and is also at a complete loss to advise the court why it happened,” Mr Bruce said.
”He had been assaulted prior to this and was kicked about the head and body. The ambulance arrives and he has no recollection of this at all. Drink played no part and he can only put it down to acting in shock.”
Mr Bruce added: ”They are the very people he should have been pleased to see. It can only be put down to an adverse reaction and he expresses his genuine and sincere apologies to the ambulance personnel and police.
”He takes full responsibility and accepts that it was completely inappropriate to act in that way.”
Sheriff Kevin Veal said: ”The matter involving the paramedics and the production of a knife is very, very serious indeed. When the emergency services turn up at an incident they do so not knowing what they are going to find.
”Usually the circumstances are fraught and I take the view that they are entitled to the fullest support in tackling their duties. In this case not only was a knife presented, but the offence was committed less than a month after this accused was placed on bail so I cannot see any way in which detention can be avoided.”
Brand, of Montrose Street, Brechin, admitted obstructing the paramedics, presenting a knife at them and assaulting two police officers, as well as possessing an offensive weapon.
The teenager also admitted behaving in a threatening manner in Church Street, Brechin on December 16 and wilfully or recklessly damaging a property there. Sentence in that case was deferred until June 7.