An angry neighbour knocked out a Kintore pub owner in a late-night row about too much noise coming from the bar.
Martin McHendry decided he’d had enough of the din outside The Square Bar and Lounge when it woke up his family in the early hours of the morning.
The 31-year-old confronted the owner but, after receiving a “cheeky” response, lost his cool and headbutted and punched the man.
Fiscal depute Andrew McMann told Aberdeen Sheriff Court: “At 1.10am on September 13 2020 the complainer left his bar to go home when he heard the accused shout at him.
‘He was basically told he shouldn’t get a house next to a bar’
“The accused was complaining about the level of noise coming from the bar.
“They exchanged words and had a verbal argument.
“A short time later, the accused approached the complainer and headbutted him and punched him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground and momentarily lose consciousness.”
The bar owner was left with bleeding nose, which was suspected to be broken.
McHendry, of The Square, Kintore, admitted a charge of assault to injury.
‘Neither of their behaviour that night was acceptable’
Defence agent Charlie Benzies said: “The background to this is that my client lives opposite this bar and had been disturbed with noise coming from it after closing hours.
“He’s tried to resolve the matter amicably.
“On the day in question, it was well after closing time. He was in the house with his two children aged five and seven who were awoken by the noise coming from the bar.
“He spoke to the complainer and got what he thought to be a cheeky response.
“He was basically told he shouldn’t get a house next to a bar.”
Mr Benzies said McHendry had felt intimidated as others had become involved “backing up” the bar owner.
The solicitor went on: “My client has apologised to the complainer and advises me that the complainer has accepted his apology and said neither of their behaviour that night was acceptable.
“Since this happened, I think there’s somebody else running the bar and there haven’t been any further problems.”
Sheriff Eric Brown ordered McHendry to complete 135 hours of unpaid work.
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