Inverness man stamped on head of victim, who he had just shared a bag of chips with

A 26-year-old Inverness man stamped on the head of another man he had just shared a bag of chips with, Inverness Sheriff Court was told yesterday.

James Mackay, an Inverness prisoner, admitted assaulting Benjamin Drummond under provocation by knocking him to the ground, rendering him unconscious, punching him on the head and stamping on it on June 14 this year. He was on two bail orders at the time.

Sheriff Margaret Neilson deferred sentence until October 28 for a background report after reading a defence psychologist’s report.

The court heard CCTV filmed the pair walking down Baron Taylor’s Street sharing a bag of chips.

Fiscal Roderick Urquhart said: “This was retaliation but cruel excess. Drummond butted Mackay twice in the face and was then shoved to the ground.

“The footage shows Mackay punching him on the head, stamping on it then walking away. There was no lasting effect to the victim who suffered swelling to his face and lip.”

Mackay, who admitted previous convictions, was again remanded in custody.