A 21-year-old Inverness man who attacked a father and son after an Inverness Caledonian Thistle football match was sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid community work yesterday.
Paul Tracey, of 67 Upper Kessock Street, admitted punching Scott Campbell and his father Leslie on the face to their injury on Greig Street on November 8 last year.
The court heard Scott suffered a bleeding nose and his father required stitches to his nose wound and was off work for a week.
Fiscal depute Kelly Mitchell told the court at an earlier hearing that the Campbells were at a local social club after the match and were approached by Tracey.
“He was shouting at them and ran towards them. An argument developed and he punched Scott Campbell on the nose. When his father Leslie told Tracey to stop, he too was punched on the nose.
“Tracey’s mother then appeared and she pulled him away.”
Defence lawyer Willie Young told Sheriff Margaret Neilson: “There had been an altercation between Mr Campbell’s nephew in the social club and my client pursued that person.
“He directed the blow at the nephew but struck Leslie Campbell instead. There was a free for all and my client also struck the son.
“Then the nephew got involved and got the better of Mr Tracey before a family member arrived and brought it to a halt. He is ashamed of the way he behaved and wishes he could turn the clock back.”
Sheriff Neilson told Mr Young: “He has two previous convictions for assault and was sentenced to periods of unpaid work as an alternative to custody. I am wondering when your client is going to grow up or he is going to end up in custody.”
The sheriff then addressed Tracey: “I am narrowly persuaded not to impose a custodial sentence on this occasion. But you should be aware that you are unlikely ever to get an opportunity like this again.
“This is your third conviction for assault and if you appear before me again on a similar charge it is almost inevitable that you will get a custodial sentence.”
Tracey was also ordered to be under supervision for a year and undertake an alcohol treatment programme.