A 35-YEAR-OLD man who repeatedly attempted to punch a member of an ambulance crew trying to help him after he was found drunk at a bus stop in Selkirk has been fined a total of £300 at the town’s Sheriff Court and ordered to pay his victim £200 compensation.

Nicholas McGuire has also been ordered to complete 60 hours of unpaid work, as part of a nine-month Community Payback Order, after repeatedly pushing a police constable called to assist, and spitting on the officer’s chest and arm.

The court heard McGuire – formerly of Portree, Skye, and now living in Bannerfield Drive, Selkirk – has not drunk since the incident, in Ettrick Terrace, on August 9.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said his client had suffered a drink problem for several years but had been sober since the offence.

Sheriff Peter Anderson fined him £280 with a £20 victim surcharge for the incident involving the paramedic and ordered him to pay £200 in compensation.

For the police assault, McGuire was given a Community Payback Order with supervision and to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work.