A Moray man who punched a Hogmanay reveller after taking umbrage with the way he approached a woman has been fined after it emerged the perceived victim was his girlfriend.
Michael Elliot, from Buckie, assaulted Caley Kitching in the town’s Moderation bar during the New Year celebrations.
The 29-year-old unleashed a “flurry” of punches on his victim during the party, just half an hour after the bells.
Yesterday, Elliot appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to an assault charge.
Fiscal Alex Swain explained that the Buckie resident was standing close to Amy Johnston at the bar to order a drink.
However, he then reacted when Kitching approached the woman and put his arm around her shoulders.
Miss Swain said: “The accused aggressively shouted at the man to get his hands off her. Mr Kitching explained that the woman was his girlfriend and it was okay.
“The accused then punched him to the jaw.”
She added: “CCTV was reviewed and showed the accused, without warning, throwing a flurry of punches at Mr Kitching.”
A member of staff intervened between the pair and Elliot was then told to leave the premises. Police were subsequently contacted about the incident.
Defence solicitor Matthew O’Neill explained his client thought that Mr Kitching was being “too rough” with his girlfriend.
He said: “He had been having a brief conversation with the woman. When the complainer approached, he perceived that he had grabbed her in quite a rough manner.
“He accepts that he should not have reacted in the way that he did. He apologises for his behaviour. He is embarrassed about it.”
Elliot, of Linn Crescent in Buckie, was fined £600 after pleading guilty to a charge of repeatedly punching Mr Kitching, which caused him to fall to the ground.