Attack on cop at PRI

Kicked off while waiting

A drunken Perth man with a history of violence caused uproar at a local hospital as he waited for treatment to facial injuries.

Twenty-eight-year-old Christopher Getler started screaming at police officers at Perth Royal Infirmary and then butted one of them on the head.

The accused, who had “no recollection” of what he had done because of his level of intoxication, was jailed for a total of eight months at Perth Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Gillian Wade told him he had accumulated a “very significant record of violence,” with convictions for assault to injury and permanent disfigurement and assault to severe injury.

“It’s a matter of great concern that you now come before the court on an assault charge on someone who was there to help you.

“I don’t consider there’s any alternative to a custodial sentence.”

Getler, of Glover Street, admitted shouting and swearing and acting in an aggressive manner at Princes Croft, Coupar Angus, on February 24 this year.

He then acted in a similar manner at PRI and attacked PC Gavin McAdam.

Depute fiscal Robbie Brown said police had received a call relating to a disturbance in Coupar Angus in the early hours.

Getler was suffering from an injury to his face and was initially calm as he waited for an ambulance to arrive.

“Police had suspicions he had consumed alcohol and his behaviour became increasingly erratic,” added the fiscal.

“He was shouting and swearing and threatening to kill a number of individuals and the police wouldn’t stop him.”

He became “compliant” when he was handcuffed and taken to hospital for treatment.

The fiscal added:“The intention would have been to release him with, at most, a fixed penalty fine.”

But he kicked off again and his behaviour escalated as he shouted, swore and screamed loudly.

As he waited to be assessed by medical staff, he head-butted one of the police officers but there was “no significant injury” caused.

Solicitor Pauline Cullerton said he had “bumped into an old friend” in Coupar Angus and they began drinking.

But an argument developed and the accused was injured.

She added:“He offers his apologies to the police officer concerned and indicates they should always be treated with respect and that his behaviour was unacceptable.”