A man has been jailed for a year for trying to punch an A&E consultant at Ninewells Hospital.
Paul Gellatly’s victim, Andrew Reddick, was treating the 43-year-old for a drug overdose at the time of the assault.
The court heard Gellatly was brought into A&E via ambulance, having overdosed on unprescribed gabapentin.
He was unresponsive and, after several attempts to wake him, Mr Reddick applied pressure to Gellatly’s chest.
Gellatly, of Clepington Road, Dundee, then pushed the medic away, swearing at him and telling him to “stop touching him”.
Depute fiscal Douglas Wiseman said: “Mr Reddick warned the accused that more pressure would be applied if he remained unresponsive when spoken to.
“The accused said he would punch Mr Reddick if he touched him again. He then stood up and held his fists out and continued to shout.
“The accused was then left on his own for around 30 minutes and when Mr Reddick returned he appeared to be sleeping.
“He was unresponsive when spoken to. Mr Reddick applied pressure to his sternum and the accused pushed him away.
“He was asked to open his eyes a number of times and eventually he did so and grabbed Mr Reddick with one hand and attempted to punch him.”
Gellatly admitted assaulting Mr Reddick on July 9.
Sheriff Tom Hughes said: “This is an appalling state of affairs.
“Hospital staff are under significant pressure and not only do you turn up creating a problem but you then try to assault someone who is trying to treat you.”