An Inverness man who broke a woman’s nose after he was refused entry to a party was saved from a prison sentence by his sister yesterday.
Robin Clark had admitted punching Amy Cartwright and knocking her unconscious on May 9 last year.
But in a letter to Sheriff David Sutherland, his sister outlined the father-of-three’s “very troubled upbringing” and “depression”.
The Sheriff retired to read the correspondence before returning to impose a strict community based disposal at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Clark, 30, was ordered to carry out the maximum 300 hours of unpaid community work; be under supervision for three years, banned from drinking alcohol for a year and undertake an alcohol abuse programme.
Clark, of 60 Torvean Avenue, was also restricted to his home between 10pm and 6am for a year and instructed to pay his victim £3,000 compensation at £30 a week.
Sheriff Sutherland told him: “Any assault which results in someone losing consciousness albeit for a relatively short period is a serious matter.
“Also your previous convictions do you no credit. However I understand that what resulted was not the intention. Given what I have read also in the social background report, I am prepared to deal with it other than a custodial sentence.”
Solicitor advocate Shahid Latif had pleaded with the Sheriff to give Clark, who recently became a father for the third time, a chance.
“He had a very troubled upbringing and depression has sat on his shoulder for much of his adult life.
“The influence of his sister as a stabilising factor cannot be understated and he has stayed out of trouble for 11 months.
“He has also secured employment for the first time in seven years and if he is imprisoned, his family will have to live on benefits when his children are at an important stage of development in his life.
“In the background report, no issues of public safety arise.” Mr Latif added.
Last month, fiscal Roderick Urquhart said Clark and others turned up uninvited about 3.30am at a house in Kenneth Place, Smithton.
Ms Cartwright tried to push Clark out of the house and he punched her, causing her to strike her head off a door before falling to the floor unconscious.
A few days later she underwent an operation under general anaesthetic to manipulate and re-set the nose.