A man who smashed a glass over the head of a birthday party reveller narrowly avoided a jail sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.
Bryan Robertson, 27, of 313 Shieldhall Road, Govan, Glasgow, admitted assaulting Adam Morrison in Union Street, Inverness, on May 24 last year.
Sheriff Margaret Neilson said she was “narrowly persuaded” by Robertson’s apology and ordered him to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work within one year as a direct alternative to prison.
Robertson had been out with his brother when an altercation broke out between Robertson and a member of a group of people from Nairn who were celebrating a birthday.
Mr Morrison, who was part of the group, intervened to try to defuse the situation but Robertson struck him twice on the top of the head with an empty glass which he had in his hand.
The glass shattered on the second blow and Mr Morrison sustained a cut to his head which required five stitches.
Robertson made off but security staff at a nearby pub saw what happened and followed him.
They flagged down a passing police car and Robertson was arrested shortly afterwards.
Robertson’s solicitor, Duncan Henderson, said: “This is an extremely serious offence and I am instructed by my client to apologise to the victim, Adam Morrison.”
Sheriff Margaret Neilson said: “It is a stark choice between a custodial sentence and a community payback order. I am narrowly persuaded and I will propose a direct alternative to a period of imprisonment.”
In addition to the unpaid work, Sheriff Neilson ordered a social work supervision requirement for a period of 18 months.