A FIRE crew chief who hospitalised a policeman during a drunken street brawl has been allowed to keep his job after a mercy plea from his victim.
Michael Goodman, who is the crew chief at Crewe Toll Fire Station in Edinburgh, faced the sack after admitting struggling violently with four police officers following a day's drinking at a rugby tournament. The 37-year-old was given 100 hours commun
ity service at Selkirk Sheriff Court earlier this month.
The court heard how sergeant Calum Macdonald, who tried to stop Goodman wandering in front of a bus after a row with a female friend, suffered ruptured shoulder ligaments after being pushed to the ground.
Goodman admitted he faced demotion or the sack from Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service. He had even put his house up for sale in Lauder, Berwickshire, fearing he would no longer be able to pay his mortgage. But during the court case it emerged that Sergeant Macdonald, who has returned to work on restrictive duties, told the procurator fiscal's department he would not like to see the skilled fire fighter lose his job over "two moments of madness".
Passing sentence on Goodman, Sheriff Kevin Drummond said he hoped the police officer's generous response which was made public by the procurator fiscal would be taken into account by his bosses.
Goodman attended a disciplinary meeting of Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
A spokeswoman said: "He's still employed with us at the moment and an inquiry is going on to discover what actually happened on the night in question."
She conceded the outcome of the enquiry could result in Mr Goodman's ultimate dismissal. However, colleagues say he has been issued with a formal warning and will keep his job.
Goodman pleaded guilty to charges of police assault, resisting arrest and breach of the peace and was ordered to carry out 100 hours community service.
The court had been told how Goodman had been drinking heavily while attending the 125th anniversary of the Melrose Rugby Sevens on April 12.
After the tournament thousands of spectators spilled out onto the main street of Melrose to drink in local pubs.
The former soldier, who has been the crew chief for the past six years, had walked out in front of a bus during a drunken row with a female friend in the High Street around an hour after the tournament had ended.
The police sergeant came to his aid by attempting to haul him out of the way of the coach which had to swerve. But he pushed the officer to the ground and moments later wrestled with his colleagues while being arrested.
Defence lawyer Heather Stewart said Goodman had been angry at being punched in the face for no reason by a passing youth and had tried to chase after him.
She added that it was an unintentional reaction to the police officer and was "horrified" at his behaviour.
Goodman had written a letter of apology to the police officer.
Sergeant Macdonald declined to comment yesterday.
The full article contains 522 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
