A PRESTONPANS ex-serviceman assaulted a police officer at a Musselburgh health centre and shouted threats at a second constable.

Hugh Benn kicked PC Callum Rearie to the body and called him names including “a big p***” during an incident at Esk Medical Centre, Ladywell Way, earlier this year.

Benn was upset at having to wait on his doctor’s appointment and caused a disturbance by lying on the floor of a room at the centre and refusing to get up.

Police were called and 47-year-old Benn soon turned his aggression towards the officers when he made threats of violence towards them.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that Benn arrived at the medical centre for an appointment with a doctor at about 9.30am on March 22 this year.

Police officers were then asked to attend the centre “regarding the conduct of Mr Benn” and they subsequently found the man lying on the floor in a room in the medical practice.

An item was said to have fallen out his pocket during the incident; as one of the officers bent down to pick it up, Benn lashed out at the PC with his feet.

The kick was said to have “connected with the upper torso” of the constable who was wearing body armour at the time.

Benn, of Preston Avenue, was restrained by the officers but he continued to act aggressively towards them by shouting and swearing.

The court was told last Tuesday that Benn had shouted, “I’m going to kick you right between the legs” and also called one officer “a big p***”.

Benn also shouted, “I’ll find where you live and I will stand on your neck so you turn blue and I will enjoy it”.

Solicitor George Henry told the court his client suffered from PTSD following a period serving in the Royal Scots where he had witnessed a friend being killed in action.

The lawyer said Benn had difficulty dealing with “stressful situations” and had been left frustrated that day due to having to wait despite having a pre-arranged appointment.

Mr Henry added that Benn had acted in “an immature way” towards the police after objects had fallen from his pocket.

Sheriff Kenneth Maciver said he was “concerned at the nature of this offence” and deferred sentence to next month for reports to be prepared.

Benn pleaded guilty to assaulting PC Callum Rearie by kicking him to the body causing him to stumble backwards at the Esk Centre, Ladywell Road, Musselburgh, on March 22 last year. He also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by uttering abusive remarks and threatening violence towards PC Michael Carne in the same incident.