An Angus man bit an Arbroath resident on the hand after he was found wandering about the home owner’s back garden.
Richard Buick, 32, of St Thomas Crescent Arbroath, appeared at Arbroath Sheriff Court on Monday where he was charged with the offence, and for causing fear and alarm and refusing to leave an address on Friday.
He admitted the charges and was released on bail for the preparation of reports. The court heard Buick had entered a home on Brechin Road through the back door.
Witnesses said he was mumbling that “someone was after him” and that he was being chased.
Fiscal Jill Drummond told the court: “The witnesses were very fearful and had no idea who he was or why he was in their home. He refused to leave and the witnesses had to push him out of their home.”
She added: “At around 7.30pm the accused passed by the window of another home and was seen heading towards the owner’s back garden.
“Both witnesses saw him attempt to climb into their garden and he mumbled that he was being chased. He moved towards one of the witnesses before the male witness grabbed him and both men fell to the ground.
“The witness attempted to hold Mr Buick and the accused bit the him on the right hand, which caused him to release his grip. The accused then ran away.”
The police were contacted and they traced Buick within another address in Brechin Road. He was heavily under the influence of drugs and attempted to run away again before being restrained.
An ambulance was called, but he was in no condition to be detained and was instead taken to Ninewells Hospital. Buick went to Arbroath police station the next day and turned himself in.
His defence agent, Billy Rennie, said Buick had recently arranged to attend a rehabilitation centre in Dublin, shortly before the incident took place.
However, he added that his client said he felt in a state of “drug psychosis” and had since been to the doctor for help.
Sheriff William Wood deferred sentence for the preparation of reports and placed Buick under a restriction of liberty order and released him on bail until July 23.