A man who threatened to glass a woman before striking her on the side of the face has avoided jail.
Dale Standen had been drinking heavily for days before the incident outside Max’s Takeaway in Inverness city centre.
He told the woman “I will glass you”, but when she smashed the glass out of his hand, he struck her on the side of the head instead.
Standen, 27, appeared for sentencing at Inverness Sheriff Court having previously admitted a single assault charge.
Fiscal depute Robyn Macleod told the court that the incident occurred on the evening of August 14 last year.
Man threatened to ‘glass’ woman
She said the woman was outside Max’s Takeaway on Lombard Street, when Standen, who was carrying a small glass, walked past and said: “I will glass you.”
“She took the glass from him and smashed it to the ground,” Ms Macleod said.
It was after this that Standen struck the woman on the side of her face.
Police were called and Standen was taken to Burnett Road Police Station where he was cautioned and charged.
Defence solicitor Rory Gowans said: “Mr Standen would like me to apologise to the court for his actions.”
Accused had been drinking ‘for days’
He explained his client had been “drinking heavily for a number of days” prior to the incident and had needed to see CCTV footage to aid his recollection.
Mr Gowans said: “There does appear to have been something that started this all off.
“He recalled a glass being in his face. He reacted by lashing out – something which he is deeply ashamed of.”
He added that there was very little likelihood of this type of behaviour being repeated.
Placing Standen, of Will Close, Lewes, on a community payback order as a direct alternative to custody, Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald said: “You are well aware that this is an appalling way to behave towards anyone in any circumstances.”
The sheriff ordered Standen to complete one year’s supervision and 108 hours of unpaid work in the community.
