Man pepper sprayed after heroin overdose warned of jail term

Drug abuser lunged at PC after being treated by paramedics

An Angus man had to be pepper sprayed by police just moments after paramedics saved his life, a court heard.

Darren Barr flew into a rage at a constable after breaking free from the back of an ambulance in Montrose in April.

It is understood the 25-year-old had taken a heroin overdose prior to being found unconscious in Balmain Street minutes earlier.

Medics were forced to use an emergency antidote to save his life.

Forfar Sheriff Court heard PC Nick McKendrick used synthetic PAVA spray on Barr’s eyes after he exclaimed “I’m going to smash your face in” when he regained consciousness.

Barr, of Castle Crescent, Friockheim, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and shouting, swearing, threatening and lunging towards PC Nicholas McKendrick, while on bail, on April 18 this year.

Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said police had been called to the George Hotel around 4.55pm over a disturbance allegedly involving Barr and were then called to Balmain Street a short distance away.

“He was unconscious and was being treated by paramedics,” she said.

“They administered Narcan to reverse the effects of a heroin overdose.”

Ms Drummond added: “He woke up and said ‘I’m going to smash your face in’.

“He managed to break free from the stretcher and lunged at Constable McKendrick.”

Barr walked toward him, out of the vehicle.

Ms Drummond said: “As a result, he backed away and he drew his PAVA spray and told him several times he would spray him.

“He used one burst of the spray to the accused, who fell to the ground and was restrained from the front.”

Defending Barr, solicitor Billy Rennie said: “He has apologised to the officers over his conduct since.”

Sheriff Pino Di Emidio said he would impose a community payback order with supervision requirements and 80 hours of unpaid work, and progress to be reviewed on February 15.

He said: “It’s very much a knifeedge thing whether I imprison you over this.”

He woke up and said ‘I’m going to smash your face in’. DEPUTE FISCAL JILL DRUMMOND