Highland man who struck woman on head wants to apologise to her

A 24-year-old first offender had sentence deferred for his social work involvement for six months after expressing “genuine remorse” for assaulting a woman.

Andrew Barker, of Achintraid, Kishorn, appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday before Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood who had called for a background report on the unemployed man.

He had admitted striking Siobhan Murray on the head on September 10.

His solicitor Patrick O’Dea said: “He is genuinely remorseful about his conduct and is bewildered and astonished that he acted in this way.

“He wants to apologise personally to his victim and her family, for whom he worked, when the opportunity arises.”

Barker will re-appear on April 20 next year.