Attacker jailed after 'square go' in Inverness street

An Inverness man settled a score with an acquaintance when he saw him at an ATM trying to withdraw money.

Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald heard that 37-year-old Inverness prisoner Jonathon Sinclair, who formerly lived in Baron Taylor's Street in the city, punched his victim Mark Lennon on the face.

Then Sinclair jumped on top of him and continued to punch and kick him about the head and body.

Fiscal depute Robert Weir said: "When Mr Lennon dropped his phone, as he tried to pick it up, he was kicked in the face. He sustained a cut cheek, a cut under his left eye and bruising. It was filmed on CCTV."

Sinclair, who was due to stand trial on an assault and robbery charge, decided to plead guilty before the jury was selected and admitted assaulting Mr Lennon to his injury in Lochalsh Road, on November 10, 2022. He was jailed for 11 months backdated to November 14 when he was taken into custody.

Defence solicitor Graham Mann told Inverness Sheriff Court: "He has known this man for some time. I think he is known to the court which may explain why he did not appear today. But my client is prepared to plead guilty.

"The background seems to be that there was an issue between them after certain things were taken from my client. The footage seems to indicate them having a square go and my client came off best."

Sheriff Macdonald told Sinclair: "I have no understanding why this happened. You have analogous convictions for assaulting people in the past so there is no alternative to a prison sentence."