A RESEARCH scientist in the drugs industry went on a crime spree after drinking alcohol and inhaling laughing gas.

Adam Nagle, 34, assaulted a stranger in the street, then pulled an 81-year-old man from his car in an attempted robbery.

A judge at Oxford Crown Court was told his behaviour was completely out of character.

Jonathan Stone, prosecuting, said Nagle approached his first victim, Nicholas Ndiithi, between 10.30pm and 11.30pm on Saturday, August 30, last year. Mr Ndiithi was walking along Hollow Way, Cowley, when he was confronted by Nagle, who pulled Mr Ndiithi’s hands out of his pockets.

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There was a scuffle between the two before Nagle ran off.

A short while later, pensioner Festus Madden was sitting in his parked Peugeot when Nagle appeared and pulled him out of his car.

Both men fell to the ground, causing Mr Madden to suffer a fractured rib. Nagle got into the car but could not start the engine.

A passerby who witnessed the incident got him out of the car and Nagle then walked into a nearby snooker club where he was later arrested.

Lucy Ffrench, defending, said her client worked on tests for new drugs.

Mrs Ffrench said Nagle did not remember taking laughing gas – nitrous oxide – but he was carrying two empty canisters.

Judge Zoe Smith said at the hearing on Thursday: “You are a person of good character, you have a good work record and are well respected.

“But on this particular night you drank to excess and, I know you have no recollection, but took this substance, nitrous oxide.

“One would assume a person in your position would know better than to do that.”

Nagle, of Grange Road West, Prenton, in Merseyside, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing. He was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for 12 months for attempted robbery and fined £500 for common assault. He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mr Madden and £475 costs.