BACKGROUND reports have been ordered into a 25-year-old man who admitted assaulting a police officer at Borders General Hospital. 

Martin McGroary, from Lanarkshire, pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to punching the male constable on his head to his injury on February 2. 

Sheriff Peter Paterson said it was a serious offence particularly in view of the location. 

He also expressed concern at McGroary’s record including a High Court conviction. 

Sentence was deferred until July 8 for the production of a Criminal Justice Social Work Report and a Restriction of Liberty Order assessment.