BACKGROUND reports have been ordered for a Hawick woman involved in a fracas while being transported to Borders General Hospital.

Grace Smith, 42, of Fisher Avenue, pleaded guilty at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in an ambulance on the A7 at Ashkirk on November 2.

She admitted shouting and swearing, struggling with police officers and running from an ambulance on an unlit road during the hours of darkness.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the accused reported that she had been assaulted by being struck in the face in a Hawick public house.

She had complained of a sore face and was intoxicated but there was no evidence of an assault.

The fiscal said that due to the circumstances an ambulance was summoned and it was considered appropriate to take Smith to Borders General Hospital.

But at 9.15pm when the ambulance was about five miles south of Hawick paramedics called the police because she was being unruly.

Mr Fraser said the ambulance had to stop because of her conduct and Smith jumped out of the vehicle and was running along the road and ambulance personnel ran after her and escorted her back to the ambulance.

Mr Fraser said: "Police officers arrived on the scene and her behaviour was described as emotional and volatile. She started struggling with police and had to be placed in handcuffs."

He added that Smith stated that if she was let out she would kill herself.

A cigarette lighter was found in her underwear with which she intended to use to cut herself.

Sentence was deferred until September 17.