A 999 call handler could lose his job after he admitted assaulting a police officer in a “moment of alcohol-fuelled madness”.
Aiden McKellor from Montrose bent a female officer’s little finger up until her nail broke during a fracas outside a town drinking spot on December 13 last year.
The 21-year-old appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and admitted assaulting PC Debbie Ironside to her injury on Mount Road, after he was offered a lift home.
The court heard McKellor, of Mount Avenue, kicked the officer on the body but the blow was absorbed by body armour, and continued to struggle with her to her injury.
Depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy said the officer was with a colleague on a mobile patrol around 2.15am, where around 150 patrons were in the vicinity of a nightspot.
McKellor approached their vehicle and harangued them until they got out, and then struggled with PC Ironside.
“He became more and more abusive to the officers and pushed PC Ironside on the body.”
The accused was then put into the back of the police van, where he continued to struggle.
“He bends the little finger upwards and this caused the nail to become torn,” Ms Kennedy added.
“This caused her a great deal of pain.”
Defending McKellor, solicitor Nick Markowski said: “Mr McKellor has just turned 21. This incident was a moment of alcohol-fuelled madness.
“He’s making a pest of himself outside the nightclub and the police offered to take him up the road to his house, he was that drunk.
“Mr McKellor can only apologise. The implications of this conviction are going to be significant.
“He’s obtained employment with BT in Dundee and is working as a 999 call operator it looks like he will lose that employment.
“He cannot remember anything. He woke up in the cells and his response to caution and charge was ‘I can only apologise’ and that is how he still feels.”
Fining McKellor £400, Sheriff Simon Collins said: “You have a previous conviction for assault.
“It seems to me that I should mark your conviction with a fine, and perhaps a more serious one, given the previous assault.”