A RECRUITMENT employee was said to have “panicked” and injured a police officer when he was being arrested on alleged drug charges.

Fergus Wade engaged in a violent struggle with PC Caohan O’Mianain when he was being apprehended at the Cowgate in Edinburgh.

Wade had been seen speaking to another man by officers in the city centre at about 1.20am on July 16 last year.

It was believed by the officers that Wade, of Lairds Way, Haddington, was in possession of ketamine and cocaine, and they approached him in a bid to arrest him.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that the 28-year-old then “panicked” and began attempting to resist and obstruct PC O’Mianain in the course of his duty.

The court heard that, during the struggle, the constable suffered a ruptured tendon in his finger and later had to undergo surgery to the injury.

'Expresses regret'

Lawyer Nigel Bruce, representing Wade, said that his client had become involved in “unfortunate circumstances” that evening after he had been under the suspicion of possessing drugs.

Mr Bruce said that Wade “expresses regret” over the incident and there was no allegation of him assaulting the constable.

The solicitor added that Wade had “no previous convictions, never been in trouble before and has nothing outstanding” and currently worked in the recruitment industry.

Mr Bruce said: “He has been taking various courses to try and better himself and hopes to become a counsellor to children.

“This conviction may affect that but he’s not sure, and that is one thing he will have to deal with in the future.”

Sheriff Gillian Sharp sentenced Wade to pay a compensation order of £400 to the officer.

Wade admitted to resisting, obstructing or hindering PC Caohan O’Mianain and struggling violently with him, to his injury, at Cowgate, Edinburgh, on July 16 last year.

He also had not guilty pleas accepted by the Crown to charges of possessing ketamine and cocaine during the same incident.