Police arrested the wrong man for a serious assault on a nightclub reveller who needed surgery for a fractured skull, a court heard yesterday.
But after several months, police found the correct assailant and Neil Fraser, of 8 Croyard Park, Beauly, appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court to admit a charge of assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment.
After the incident, staff at Raigmore Hospital sent victim Liam Tykler home after declaring he was only suffering from ‘ a bad hangover’, fiscal Roderick Urquhart told Sheriff Margaret Neilson.
The incident happened on June 15, 2014, at the city’s Miami Nightclub.
Mr Urquhart told the court: “Fraser and his girlfriend went to the nightclub but fell out. She went on to the dance floor and was dancing with Mr Tykler and they began kissing.
“Fraser came over and head-butted Mr Tykler. He was thrown out by a steward who actually knew Fraser. It was thought at that time the incident wasn’t too serious.
“But the following morning, Mr Tykler was complaining of a headache and went to casualty. He was sent home after being declared as suffering from a bad hangover.
“That was a week before it was realised he actually had a fractured skull. He required to have two metal plates inserted into his skull, attached by eight screws.
“He now has a permanent scar and numbness to the left side of his head. He also has on-going infection as a result.
“When it became clear that the incident was more serious, police spoke to the member of staff and were given the name Neil Fraser and a brief description of where he was from and what he looked like.
“However the wrong Neil Fraser was arrested and he made a no comment interview to police. It was only some months later it was confirmed that he was the wrong Neil Fraser.
“Police tracked down another Neil Fraser, obtained photographs of him, showed them to the member of staff and the correct Neil Fraser was apprehended and charged.
“That explains the delay in the case coming to court.” Mr Urquhart went on.
Sentence was deferred until May 31 for a background report and defence solicitor Neil Wilson said he would reserve his comments until then.