A Moray reveller who reacted to racist slurs in a nightclub by throwing a bar stool was fined yesterday after he inadvertently hit a woman.
Adis Delic, of 33 Jamieson Drive, Elgin, was on a night out in Downtown Bar, on the town’s High Street, when he was subjected to racial abuse by an unknown man.
Delic tried to throw a bar stool at the man but missed and struck Hannah MacDonald on the head instead.
He admitted the assault, which happened in the early hours of May 31, when he appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday.
Fiscal depute Ruairidh McAlistair told the court: “He was angry. He picked up a 7kg bar stool and threw it at the unknown male.
“It missed the male and hit the complainer causing immediate swelling.”
Ms MacDonald was taken to Dr Gray’s hospital for treatment but was later released.
Delic’s solicitor Matthew O’Neill said: “Mr Delic is Bosnian. He moved to Elgin in 1992 as a result of the conflict in his home country with his mother, father and younger brother.
“He is a well-known face in and around Elgin and generally gets on with most people.”
Mr O’Neill said the comments which had been made were “too disgusting to be repeated in the court room”.
He added: “He tried to take them on the chin initially, but alcohol got the better of him. The injury to Ms MacDonald is a matter of deep regret because his cousin is the partner of this girl’s sister.”
Sheriff James Hendry told Delic: “Your behaviour here was entirely unacceptable, irrespective of the abuse you suffered. It was an extreme reaction. One must think that you should have just left the premises.”
The 33-year-old was fined £400 and ordered to pay Ms Macdonald £200 compensation.