A foaming at the mouth legal highs attacker has been warned jail is “on the radar” of a sheriff after a court heard how he spat and delivered homophobic abuse at police in the wake of a bus stop assault on a female stranger.
James Hardy had earlier engaged his victim and a friend in conversation in a Montrose pub almost a year ago.
But hours later his mood changed and when police finally quelled the “incoherent” accused they found a Stanley knife in his jacket pocket.
Hardy, 51, of Poets Place, Brechin, appeared for sentence at Forfar having previously admitted a string of charges relating to the incident on January 27 last year.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said the victim and a friend had been in the town’s Royal Arch Bar when they first encountered Hardy. They left to catch a bus, but missed it and returned to the pub.
Around 6pm they left again and they were followed by the accused, who then punched one of the women twice to the chest and face, causing her to fall to the ground. A passer-by dialled 999 after witnessing the attack.
Hardy was arrested but the fiscal said he continued to be a problem for officers, was under the influence of some form of substance and was foaming at the mouth.
A spit mask had to be applied after he hit one officer on the face with his saliva and he shouted racist and homophobic abuse on the journey to the police station, where he refused to cooperate at the charge bar.
Police were eventually forced to remove his clothing and possessions and the knife was found in an inside jacket pocket.
Solicitor Ian Flynn said that a social work report highlighted mental health issues from which Hardy suffers.
“He was on legal highs and that does no good when there are issues such as those,” added Mr Flynn.
“We are nearly a year down the road from when these offences occurred and he has actively sought help.
“He has stopped the use of legal highs, so cutting off that avenue for the behaviour that came out of this incident.
“Mr Hardy did not recall any of this incident, but accepted that he acted like that.”
Deferring sentence until March 17, Sheriff Di Emidio said: “Imprisonment has to be high on my radar because you have really left me with few options, but I am absolutely aware of the difficulties.”