A 51-YEAR-OLD man who assaulted two porters during an early-morning disturbance at Borders General Hospital has been jailed for a total of 200 days.

Scott Shearman, from Hawick, had just been discharged from the hospital’s accident and emergency department and was waiting for a taxi home at around 1am on May 13, 2022, when he became agitated and was asked to calm down.

He spat on one porter and attempted to kick him; then he spat at another, attempted to butt him on the head and kicked him.

Selkirk Sheriff Court heard Shearman – who is already serving a custodial sentence for other matters – was battling with drug addiction at the time.

Defence lawyer Stephanie Clinkscale said her client’s partner of 25 years had passed away since he was first locked up last year.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said the court had made it clear that this sort of behaviour at the BGH – and particularly spitting – was “unacceptable”.