Doorstep bust-up in Inverness led to broken nose
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A 35-YEAR-OLD landscaper who broke a man’s nose with his fist then struck him with a rounders bat has been fined at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Alan Coe (35) of Ardholm Place, Inverness, attacked his neighbour Corey Sturrock at an address in Oldtown Road in Inverness.
Depute fiscal Sharon Ralph said there had been an incident earlier and Mr Sturrock attended at the address in Oldtown Road.
The was an altercation between the two men, and Coe hit his victim repeatedly on the head with his fist before striking him on the body with a baseball bat.
The accused told police he had acted in self defence.
Mr Sturrock was taken to hospital where he was found to have a fractured nasal septum and soft tissue damage to his body.
Solicitor Marc Dickson, representing Coe, said his client had been at the address with the female householder and they had observed an earlier altercation between Mr Sturrock and his partner, and as “concerned citizens” they had contacted the police.
Later Mr Sturrock went to their door where he was punched several times about the head by Coe and fell to the floor.
Mr Dickson said he managed to get up and Coe picked up a rounders bat which was used by children in the local playground.
He said Coe picked up the bat hoping Mr Sturrock would leave and he prodded him with it.
Coe admitted a charge of assault to severe injury, which occurred on July 27 last year.
Mr Dickson said the accused’s last conviction was over a decade ago and he had now set himself up in business as a landscaper.
He said the situation was thrust upon Coe, who may have overreacted, and stressed that it was not premeditated and he had not “sought the weapon out”.
“He considers himself to be absolutely law-abiding,” he added.
Sheriff Mark Stewart fined Coe £600.
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