A teenager who scarred a young woman by throwing a bottle has been ordered to pay her £1,500 in compensation.
Tristan Mackenzie admitted in May last year a charge of culpable and reckless conduct by injuring Calli Nicol by throwing a bottle at her at an address in Lindsay Avenue, Inverness, on May 18, 2013.
Yesterday, the 19 year-old, of Walker Crescent, Culloden, appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court for sentencing after he was ordered to be of good behaviour for a year.
Sheriff David Sutherland told him: “This was a charge of culpable and reckless conduct rather than assault. What you did was reckless rather than intentional. But an injury was caused to the young woman and compensation is appropriate.”
The court had been told first offender Mackenzie had gone to a party in Inverness after reading about it online.
But when he arrived, other party goers made it clear he was not welcome.
Fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart said: “He had a bottle and threw it away. But it struck the victim who was standing only two metres away and it broke.
“On seeing that, others at the party attacked Mackenzie and knocked him unconscious. He was taken to hospital and later charged by police with assault. He told officers: ‘I got jumped by a few boys after I threw the bottle. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone’.”
Mr Urquhart said Ms Nicol had suffered a two-and-a-half inch cut under her left eye and a cut lip. She had an operation to remove broken glass, and may require further surgery.
He added: “The surgeon said she would have a scar, but not major disfigurement.”
Defence agent Rory Gowans said: “My client acted foolishly when it was made clear that he was not welcome and was horrified when the bottle struck the victim whom he regarded as a friend. He bitterly regrets it and realises she will be reminded of it every time she looks in the mirror. He is a young man with a good future and he made a foolish mistake.”