A former Aberdeen restaurant manager who punched a female colleague when she challenged him for smoking indoors has been ordered to pay his victim £5,000.
Christopher Murray, 29, who had been a manager at Granite Park in Golden Square, assaulted his colleague after they both stayed on at the bar drinking after finishing their shifts on July 29.
In the early hours of the next morning, a row over a cigarette sparked the attack.
Murray, whose address was given in court papers as Morrison Place, Cruden Bay, was dismissed from his job following the incident.
He appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court for sentencing after previously admitting the offence.
In addition to the £5,000 compensation order, Murray was handed 300 hours of unpaid work, 12 months of supervision and also placed on a tag for eight months.
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The court previously heard Murray became “aggressive” when the woman told him to stop smoking after seeing him with the cigarette inside. Murray then punched her twice in the face – she was left with injuries which required stitches.
Murray pled guilty to assault to severe injury.
Defence agent John Ferrie told the court: “They both had consumed large amounts of drink. He’s horrified and ashamed of the way he has behaved.
“Hopefully this will be a one-off.
“Mr Murray has learned not to drink to excess.
“This is the type of offence that may attract a custodial sentence. He understands that.
“He has some savings and would be quite willing to pay a compensation order.”
On sentencing Murray, Sheriff Ian Wallace said: “You drank alcohol with your co-worker. You then, for no apparent reason, assaulted her. It was a prolonged assault.
“You repeatedly kicked her and stamped on her, including on her head. It was clear she was in significant distress.
“You have been unable to provide an explanation for this assault other than you were drunk.
“It is hoped that, having watched the CCTV footage of the assault yourself, this will cause you to reflect on what you are capable of when you are drunk.”
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