A Lochaber man who repeatedly punched another man following a row over their dogs was yesterday ordered to do 180 hours unpaid work.
Kevin Mathers denied driving a black Jeep at the couple who owned the other dog and assaulting the man by Caol shore.
The 49-year-old, of 16 Glenloy Street, Caol, previously pleaded not guilty at Fort William Sheriff Court to driving dangerously at Erracht Drive on September 18 last year by driving at Christopher and Danielle Drummon.
He also denied assaulting Mr Drummon by punching him repeatedly to his head to his injury.
His trial started in May and concluded last month with Mathers being found guilty of the assault.
Sentence was deferred until yesterday for a background report.
The dangerous driving charge was found not proven.
At the trial, Mr Drummon, 36, also of Caol, told the court he and his wife were walking their Jack Russell on the beach when the Jeep pulled up and a collie dog came towards them as if it was “stalking” their dog.
He said his wife asked the woman with the dog to put it on a lead and she reacted badly.
He added that, after they left the beach, the driver’s door of the Jeep flew open and Mathers got out.
Mr Drummon said: “He walked straight up to me and punched me right above my right eye before any words were said.”
He added that he was hit at least four or five times around the face and needed three stitches in a cut above his right eye.
Gerry Sweeney, representing Mathers, yesterday handed a number of personal and work-related testimonials in to the court.
He said: “The testimonials with the report serve to highlight the positive characteristics of my client’s lifestyle and personality.”
He added that his client still maintained his innocence on the not proven matter.
Sentencing Mathers for the assault, Sheriff Mark Thorley told him he considered it to be “a matter of some seriousness” and imposed 180 hours unpaid work as an alternative to custody.
