Unpaid work for drunk camper

Steven Moffat, 28, from Prestonpans in East Lothian, pleaded guilty to obstructing two police officers at the popular tourist spot on July 28.

He also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing and causing damage in a vehicle en-route to St Leonards Police Station in Edinburgh.

A not guilty plea to assaulting a police officer was accepted by the crown.

Procurator fiscal Fraser Mathieson said that on the evening of Saturday, July 18, a member of the public found Moffat lying half on and off the A708 road clearly intoxicated.

He continued: “Efforts to assist him were met with a torrent abuse of him and the police had to be summoned.

“He was lying comatosed on a grass verge when police attended at around 7.20pm.

“One of the constables attempted to speak to him he got told to f*** off.”

He then threatened the officers if they tried to arrest him.

Moffat also called a member of the public who witnessed the incident a “paedophile”.

Mr Mathieson added: “Ultimately he was arrested and efforts were made to take him to St Leonards.

“But he continued to act in a disorderly manner and was uttering a number of swear words and insults and struggled with officers.”

Moffat’s lawyer explained the self-employed labourer had lost his job due to the current pandemic and was now living off £290 a month Universal Credit.

He explained that Moffat had stopped drinking in 2016 because it led to him getting into trouble.

But after being invited to go wild camping at St Mary’s Loch by friends he consumed alcohol for the first time and should not have done it.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said the behaviour was totally unacceptable, but he took into account Moffat had recognised this.

He ordered him to carry out the 70 hours unpaid work over a nine-month period.