A Perth man who has diabetes, depression and is a registered paranoid schizophrenic escaped punishment after he admitted struggling with his wife in a moving car.
After hearing that Robert Reid, 44, of Kestrel Way, also suffered a brain aneurism in 2003 which left him with only 30% body movement, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said: “What in Heaven’s name are we to do with the accused?”
Depute fiscal Stuart Richardson told the court that Reid had a heart bypass five years ago and on the evening in question had suffered chest pains which led to his wife taking him to Perth Royal Infirmary (PRI) by car.
“The accused was offered medication he had previously taken before but these made him noxious so he didn’t want them,” he said.
“He left just after midnight and told his wife he wanted to go to either a hospital in Edinburgh or Aberdeen. The accused took exception to the fact that his wife had not taken him to these locations and became very irate.”
The court heard how Reid then “lashed out” and tried to exit the car when it was moving.
“The man’s wife and a family member who was sitting in the back tried to restrain the accused but they couldn’t cope, so police were called,” Mr Richardson added.
Sheriff Foulis told the court that Reid had a criminal record, which included a breach of the peace offence in 2010, an assault in 2011 and a prison sentence in 2013.
“The accused is not a great payer and unpaid work is out of the question and can’t see what benefit a supervision order will be to the domestic bliss of the Reid household,” he said.
“And a restriction of liberty is not a particularly smart move so where do I go?”
He decided to admonish Reid.
Reid had admitted that on December 12, last year, at Jeanfield Road, Perth, he repeatedly attempted to open the door of a moving car, struggled with his wife, repeatedly lashed out at the occupants of the car and struck himself on the body.