A brute who passed out in a garden punched a nurse in the face when he woke up in hospital.
Colin McDonald attacked the medic working with critically ill patients when she tried to check he was okay.
The 32-year-old was being treated at Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital for a suspected drugs overdose at the time, the Paisley Daily Express reports.
Prosecutor Carly McLeod told the court: "On May 27, McDonald was admitted to the Royal Alexandra Hospital due to a suspected overdose on opiates.
"He was initially aggressive and hostile when receiving treatment.
"McDonald was left to sleep until his next observations were due.
"Around 2.30am, nurses Suter and Feeley attended at the accused's bed to carry out medical procedures on him.
"Upon trying to wake the accused, he struck Suter to the left side of her jaw."
Nurse Katie Suter was examined by a doctor and sent home and McDonald was arrested following the incident in May 2020.
Last week at Paisley Sheriff Court, Sheriff Lindsay Kooner slammed McDonald stating: "You assaulted a nurse who was treating you.
"Your actions placed additional pressure on to the services when the whole country was under pressure in 2020."
Defence agent Gemma Elder told the court that McDonald's recollection was "significantly impaired."
Ms Elder said: "Like much of the country, Mr McDonald was consuming more alcohol than he normally would have in 2020, during lockdown.
"On this date, he had been found in a garden unresponsive and when paramedics stabilised him, he acted in the manner described.
"He wishes to apologise to the medical staff and the court and he is horrified by his conduct.
"He understands the seriousness of the matter and doesn't shy away from that."
Sentencing, Sheriff Lindsay Kooner said: "I will step back from custody albeit this is a very serious matter.
"Albeit there was no injury, the complainer would have been very shaken when she was going about her work treating people and she had to go home to recover."
McDonald was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the community within 12 months and he was ordered to pay £450 in compensation to nurse Katie Suter at the rate of £50 per week.
