Barman bitten by customer refused service at Inverness pub
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A thug bit a barman on the chin when he refused to serve him at a city restaurant and bar.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard 26-year-old Ashley Watson leaned over the bar at Encore Une Fois in Young Street, Inverness, and bit Nikodem Sawicki, without warning, on the right side of his chin.
The bite pierced the skin and caused him to bleed.
Watson, c/o Inverness Prison, appeared from custody last week to admit assaulting his victim to his injury.
He also pleaded guilty to behaving in an abusive manner and threatening Mr Sawicki with violence, as well as to smashing the rear window of a BMW car after he left the premises on October 19 last year.
Depute fiscal David Morton told Sheriff Margaret Neilson that Watson and a friend had been drinking in the bar initially without incident, but by about 9pm staff were aware of them becoming a nuisance.
“Both males then approached the bar and requested alcohol,” he said.
“However they were refused service by Mr Sawicki and the duty manager Mr Maclennan, resulting in both becoming confrontational.”
Watson swore at Mr Sawicki and threatened to turn the bar “upside down”, also telling him he would “get him” on his way home.
He then bit him.
Both Watson and his friend were escorted from the bar and were subsequently seen walking in the direction of King Street where they passed a parked BMW motor car.
Watson punched the back window of the car, causing it to smash, before running off.
The incident was captured on CCTV and Watson was traced by police officers at home a short time later.
The fiscal said as a result of the incident, Mr Sawicki required to have injections and was given a course of antibiotics to prevent him from contacting blood-borne diseases.
Watson, through his solicitor, provided a blood sample to confirm the absence of any such diseases.
“Initially Mr Sawicki had a small scar on his chin but this has faded in time,” the fiscal said.
“He states as a result of the incident he has lost a bit of confidence at work, particularly at busy times.”
Defence solicitor Marc Dickson asked for pre-sentencing background reports to be called for and Sheriff Neilson deferred sentencing until March 12.
