A Paisley carer hit a police officer with a toilet brush in the Royal Alexandra Hospital before going on to make homophobic slurs.
John Durning, 37, struck PC Roberts with a toilet brush on April 3 last year in the town’s main hospital before going on to shout, swear, make homophobic remarks and threats of violence.
Durning, of Tannahill Road, also caused fear or alarm on January 2 last year by shouting, swearing and uttering threats of violence.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard: “Around 4pm on January 2, police received a call from the accused’s father who is disabled.
“Police immediately attended and they noted the living room was in disarray with glasses and bottles smashed on the floor.
“Other males were present at the time and the accused became hostile and was shouting and swearing.
“He shouted, ‘F**k off, why are yous here, f*****g bams, f*****g come on then.’
“Durning continued to make threats and was requested to calm down.
“He then shouted ‘I’ll take yous the now, come out to the garden.’
“Various other remarks were made while the accused adopted an aggressive stance.
“Police approached him to inform he was under arrest when he continued to shout and swear.”
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Durning, who has multiple previous convictions, was “eventually” escorted off the property and was cautioned and charged.
Defence agent Anthony Boland told the court Durning’s father contacts police regularly.
Mr Boland also explained Durning’s father is paralysed and wheelchair bound, requiring round-the-clock care and Durning is his main carer.
Mr Boland said: “His behaviour is indicative of a man struggling with his own mental health problems and the pressure he’s under as his father’s carer.
“On occasions he struggles with the demands of that care and he reached boiling point on that occasion.”
On sentencing, Sheriff Sukhwinder Gill said: “You’re a man who suffers from anxiety, stress and paranoia, and what occurs to me is that it’s all self-induced. You have been taking amphetamines and cannabis since you were 16, and you’re still taking them.
“The other matter where you assaulted a police officer with a toilet brush in hospital and made offensive remarks, homophobic remarks to police officers is more concerning to me.
“You made comments such as ‘I know where your daughters stay. I know where they go to school.’
“That matter puts you in the custody bracket.
“You’ve been unemployed for 15 years - no wonder you have these issues when you’re stuck in the house all day doing nothing.
“I am willing to give you the opportunity to turn your life around.”
Durning was fined £380 to be paid at £40 per month for the incident on January 2 last year.
And for the matter involving police officers at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Durning was placed under supervision for 18 months and placed on a restriction of liberty order for five months keeping him in his home address between 7pm and 7am each day.
Sheriff Gill warned Durning to comply with the orders stating: “I will warn you that if you breach this order it will come back to me and, take it from me, I’ll consider custody in this case.”
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