Teen who spat at firefighter bailed

A TEENAGE yob who admitted assaulting a firefighter who was trying to put out a blaze has had his sentence further deferred for the outcome of a psychiatric assessment.

The 17-year-old, who can’t be named due to his age, was one of a group of youths who harassed firefighters as they trained their hoses on a fire at waste ground in Mid Craigie, Dundee.

When the youths were told to move away from the scene by one of the firefighters, the yob turned on him and spat on him. The teenager admitted assaulting Craig Rodgers, crew manager at Kingsway Fire Station, on November 21 2016, at waste ground between Pitairlie Road and Pitkerro Road, by obstructing or hindering him and spitting on his clothing.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard the group had been pulling at the hoses and interfering with the firefighting efforts, while pretending to punch the firefighters.

Fiscal depute Laura Bruce said what initially appeared to be harmless behaviour turned nasty after they were told to move away from the scene by the crew manager.

The teenager also admitted that on October 17 2016, at Forfar Road, Kingsway and Afton Way, he assaulted Daniel Crighton, 28, pursued him, seized hold of him, pushed and pulled him, and robbed him of his bike.

The youth had been placed on the Mentoring for Men programme. However, when he appeared for sentencing, solicitor Paul Parker Smith said the social work report was silent on his progress on that programme.

Sheriff Alastair Brown deferred sentence until May 24 for a supplementary report and information on his progress with Mentoring For Men and for the outcome of a psychiatric report.

The teenager’s bail was continued meantime.

NINETEEN hardy souls braved the chilly waters of Broughty Ferry Harbour at a YeAABA open day. The swimming club, which holds regular training nights at the harbour, enjoyed an exhilarating dip in the sunshine.

Dundee Sheriff Court