A drunk Perth man who was found lying on the side of the road in broad daylight, lashed out and punched a police officer who went to his aid.
Twenty-eight-year-old Andrew Kerr was found on Firbank Road.
When officers went to assist him and help him to his feet, he responded by lashing out and punching the officer on the body.
The accused became aggressive and ended up back on the ground as he was restrained, Perth Sheriff Court was told.
And as he was taken in a van to Perth Police HQ, he challenged another officer to fight and repeatedly booted the cell cage.
He was given time to reflect on his violent behaviour after he was ordered to be tagged for the next four months.
He will be restricted to his home in Newhouse Road from 9pm-6am, seven days a week, and will also be supervised for 18 months.
In addition, he will have to attend for alcohol treatment for a year.
Sheriff Keith O’Mahoney told him the punishments were imposed instead of sending him to prison.
Kerr admitted assaulting PC Craig Smith in Firbank Road on June 22, 2019, and then acting aggressively towards him and colleague PC George Wilkie as he was transported to the Barrack Street police HQ.
Depute fiscal Michael Sweeney said the ambulance service had alerted police after seeing the accused lying in the street at 3.45pm.
As officers helped him up, he “suddenly turned to his left and punched PC Smith.”
On the journey to Barrack Street, Kerr asked PC Wilkie “for a fight” and was also kicking the metal cage inside the police van.
Solicitor Paul Ralph said when his client had sobered up and was cautioned and charged, he had apologised for his behaviour.
Kerr appeared back in the dock the following day to admit two separate charges of assault, committed before the incidents in Letham.
Sheriff Keith O’Mahoney deferred sentence on these until October 30 to assess his progress on the community payback and restriction of liberty orders.
Kerr admitted repeatedly punching Derek Cramb and Sean Cunningham on the head at Robertson’s Homes, Muirton Park Development, Gowans Terrace, Perth, on August 27 last year.
The sheriff warned him that he wouldn’t simply be admonished.
A good behaviour report was ordered for Kerr’s next court appearance.
He admitted 10 pages of previous convictions.
