Stranded T in the Park music fan punched policeman to get lift home

A music fan who clobbered a police officer in a foolhardy bid to get a lift home has been ordered to write a letter of apology.

Peter Reilly was left stranded at this year’s T in the Park festival after his friends headed home to Edinburgh with his bus ticket.

The 18-year-old who is about to start a civil engineering course at Telford College apparently panicked and, believing he might be given a lift home if he committed an offence, punched the surprised officer in the face.

Reilly, of Milnacre in Edinburgh, admitted assaulting the officer to his injury at the Black Hole bus waiting area at Balado on July 15.

Solicitor David Sinclair told Perth Sheriff Court his client was “a young man of some intelligence” and a first offender who had committed the offence in “unusual circumstances”.

Sheriff Brian Cameron deferred sentence upon Reilly until November 20, telling him: “I want you to return with a letter apologising to the officer, setting out why you regret your actions and expressing remorse.”