An Angus man who attacked two men with a baseball bat has been warned he can expect a jail sentence.
Daniel Healey repeatedly hit Bartlomiej Popiol and Maciek Lindstedt with the metal bat in an Arbroath street last year.
The 23-year-old appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and pled guilty on indictment to two charges of assault to the men’s injury, while on bail, and possessing an offensive weapon in Montrose Road.
The court heard Healey, of Prosen Road, Kirriemuir suffered from “paranoia” due to a previous drug habit, and thought the men were attacking him in the road on October 15.
Healey hit Mr Popiol repeatedly on the head and body and Mr Lindstedt repeatedly to the head.
Defence agent Ian Flynn said he believed his client would not do well in a prison environment.
He said: “Mr Healey pled guilty to both charges at the time of the offence. He really was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, virtually.
“He thought he was under attack from the two Polish people, who didn’t understand him, and he was carrying the weapon.
“At the baseline of that is his previous substance misuse. He’s accepted help which he hadn’t done before. He’s been in regular contact with the community mental health team.
“Although he’s stopped taken the substances he still suffers from the paranoia.
“There’s been no offending since the incident and he doesn’t have a history of violence.”
Mr Flynn said his previous conviction was for theft from a non-secure car in Edzell, and he had been seeking treatment from mental health professionals.
“His way to deal with matters is to hide in his house with his headphones on,” he said.
“I would submit he’d be best managed in the community, the only alternative is a prison sentence. He is fit to be given the opportunity of treatment in the community.”
Sheriff Gregor Murray deferred sentence to March 16 for Healey to be of good behaviour, and ordered supplementary social work reports.
He told Healey: “While I can appreciate the good effort you’ve made so far, I am far from convinced this will last any length of time. Prove me wrong.
“You are looking at a significant custodial sentence for this offence. This occurred at a time you were experiencing difficulties, but those were entirely of your own making.
“People are entitled to know that people are not carrying around baseball bats in a paranoiac state.”
