A drink-driver who parked his car in view of Forfar police station as a couple were giving a statement about his abusive behaviour has been banned for 15 months and jailed for 40 days.
Darren Thomson had faced up to the couple, who saw him apparently relieving himself in the street.
When they went to report the matter and their suspicions that he was over the limit behind the wheel the 24-year-old was seen parking his car near the police office.
Thomson was found to be almost twice the legal limit in what the court heard was a “day after” offence.
At Forfar Sheriff Court, Thomson, of Archies Park, Forfar, admitted conducting himself in a disorderly manner in the town’s Vennel and West High Street on June 1, and driving with excess alcohol (66 mics).
Depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy said the incident happened at around 3.30pm on a Sunday afternoon when the couple were walking towards the town centre from the Asda store.
“They saw the accused standing behind a vehicle and he appeared to be relieving himself,” said the fiscal. “The woman in particular took umbrage at this and attempted to photograph him by means of a mobile phone.”
Thomson approached them and became abusive, before trying to lunge at the woman’s husband. The couple then went to the police station.
Defence solicitor Ann Duffy said her client had been particularly upset by one remark the woman had made and that had sparked “the worst of the behaviour”.
Last month, Thomson was jailed for 14 months following a series of offences, including a stand-off with a court officer in the Forfar courtroom.
Thomson apologised to the female officer in a letter in which he described himself as a “daft, abusive, narrow-minded idiot.”
His solicitor added: “Whilst in prison he is now working with an anger management programme and the Phoenix programme to address his substance misuse issues.
“This was a course of conduct when he was abusing alcohol, abusing substances and making poor choices.”
Sheriff Murray told Thomson: “You don’t need to hear any more from me about what I think about your conduct.”
He ordered the new jail term to run concurrently with the sentence Thomson is already serving.