A DIABETIC man ‘celebrated’ New Year by attacking strangers in the street – and then tried to blame his medical condition.

First offender Ryan Tweedie, 33, spent Hogmanay bringing in the bells with family and friends at his home in Linwood.

But he ventured out in the early hours of January 1 this year and set upon Iain Butler and Andrew Harkins as they walked home just after 3am.

He attacked both men, punching them in the face and leaving them covered in blood.

Tweedie pleaded guilty to four of the five charges he faced when he appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court last week.

He admitted assaulting both Mr Butler and Mr Harkins, as well as attacking a police officer who was arresting him and behaving in a threatening or abusive way by shouting, swearing and bawling offensive remarks.

A charge that he resisted arrest by struggling with officers was dropped.

Procurator fiscal depute Laura Wilcox told the court the assaults took place in Clippens Road, Linwood, where Tweedie lived at the time.

Police who were alerted to the incident traced Tweedie and found blood on his t-shirt, as well as on his face and head.

He lashed out when detained, striking one of the officers on the thigh.

Defence solicitor Rhona Lynch said Tweedie had hoped to blame his behaviour on hypoglycemia – a condition caused by a very low level of blood sugar, which is known as glucose and is the body’s main energy source.

She also told how he tried to claim he was suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis at the time – a serious complication of diabetes that occurs when the body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones when it can’t produce enough insulin.

The lawyer explained: “The circumstances in this case are bizarre in the extreme.”

Ms Lynch told the court her firm had investigated a possible defence of automatism – when an accused cannot be held responsible for their actions because they have no knowledge of what has happened due to a total loss of control through no fault of their own.

But she said an expert had ruled out both hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis being explanations for Tweedie’s behaviour.

The court was also told Tweedie, now of Limecraigs Crescent, Paisley, “hasn’t touched” alcohol since the incident took place and was “appalled” by his behaviour.

Sheriff James Spy called for background reports to be prepared ahead of sentencing and adjourned the case until later this month for that to be done.

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