Man stepped into road and shone torch at ambulance driver in Thurso
A Thurso man shone a torch in the face of an ambulance driver, forcing him to make an emergency stop, a sheriff heard on Tuesday.
Robert Ayre (56) was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work and pay the Scottish Ambulance Service compensation of £700.
The unusual incident occurred around 6am on February 28, in Sir George's Street, Thurso, at its junction with Bridgend Filling Station.
Ayre walked onto the road and shone his torch on the driver of the approaching ambulance, forcing him to make an abrupt stop to avoid hitting Ayre.
Fiscal depute Grant McLennan said that Ayre shouted and swore and brandished the torch “in a menacing manner” and repeatedly struck the ambulance with it, causing hundreds of pounds of damage.
The ambulance driver reported the incident to police officers who happened to be in the area.
Sheriff Neil Wilson heard that Ayre, of Alexandra, Bridgend, Thurso East, didn’t come quietly when approached by the officers and assaulted two of them. They were required to use pepper spray to bring him under control.
Sheriff Neil Wilson described Ayre’s conduct as “entirely unacceptable” whatever his personal difficulties, and made the point that it was fortunate the ambulance driver had not been engaged in an emergency at the time.
Ayre, described as a service veteran, admitted charges of threatening or abusive behaviour, police assault, causing damage, and breaching a bail condition.