Published: Wednesday, 20th August, 2008 12:30
Alloa thugs jailed for festival assault on policeman
By Court Reporter
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A smirking Dylan Smith is taken away to begin his custodial sentence.
AN ALLOA thug who booted a police officer in the head was locked up last Wednesday after a sheriff told him he could have sparked a major incident at T in the Park.
Dylan Smith (20) was sentenced to four months in detention after he admitted carrying out the savage attack in front of hundreds of festival goers.
He kicked PC Ian Crockatt several times on the head, with the officer only saved from serious injury by his bicycle helmet.
Drugged-up Smith was already on bail – having been freed twice by sheriffs at Alloa – when he attacked PC Crockatt near the festival’s perimeter fence.
Fiscal depute Lucy Keane told Perth Sheriff Court, “This was at T in the Park on the Saturday evening at 7.15pm.
“Officers on cycle patrol were made aware of an incident and when they approached the accused he became very aggressive and started shouting and swearing.
“The area was very busy with people and in light of that they went to arrest him for breach of the peace. As they did so the accused struggled with them.
“He assaulted PC Crockatt by kicking him several times on the head. Fortunately he had a cycle helmet on so he wasn’t injured. Eventually the accused was restrained by other officers.”
Smith, of Hillcrest Drive, admitted assaulting the police officer by kicking him at T in the Park on 12 July. He also admitted conducting himself in a disorderly manner, shouting, swearing and breaching the peace while subject to bail. The offences took place at an area known as the Jessica Gate, near the A91, Balado.
Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, said Smith attacked the officer after downing a cocktail of cider, Buckfast, speed and ecstasy at the festival.
Mr Ralph said, “He is lucky in one view that it was not worse.
“A cocktail of things had been taken and it’s not surprising he doesn’t remember anything about it.”
Sheriff Michael Fletcher told Smith that his behaviour could have sparked a much worse incident because of the number of people who witnessed it.
He said, “It took place at T in the Park where a large number of people were attending and inflammatory incidents like this can result in very serious incidents indeed.
“The trouble for you is that it was a very serious incident because it happened when thousands of people were there.
“Attacking the police in an incident like this just cannot be allowed to happen. It is serious enough when police are attacked, but it is particularly bad when that involves kicking in the head.”
Sheriff Fletcher noted Smith had a previous police assault conviction and said he had no alternative but to lock him up for a period.
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