Inverness drinker ‘came off worst’ after punching pub door steward
A defence lawyer told a sheriff his client had chosen the wrong person to pick a fight with as the victim was a top Thai kickboxer.
David Patterson said his client, Stuart Johnstone (28) "came off worse" after punching a door steward at an Inverness city centre bar and bursting his lip.
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Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Johnstone was intoxicated and took umbridge at being asked for proof of age at McCallums in Union Street on the night of January 7, 2023.
Sheriff David Harvie asked Johnstone, of Cromarty House, Dingwall: "How would you like it if someone treated you like that when you were just doing your job?"
Johnstone had admitted a charge of assault.
Fiscal depute Adele Gray told the court that Johnstone became angry at the request.
"He put his head towards the door security staff member and made racist remarks towards him. He was pushed away to create space and reacted by punching the steward in the face.
"Police were called and when they arrived, the accused was being restrained on the ground."
Mr Patterson said his client couldn't remember much about the incident as he was "incredibly intoxicated."
He added: "The individual he chose to pick a fight with was an expert in Thai kickboxing and he came off worst. The offence shouldn't have happened. He is pretty close to a custodial sentence but he tells me he has now stopped drinking."
Sheriff Harvie told Johnstone: "This was utterly reprehensible. Being so intoxicated that you can't remember anything is no excuse."
He ordered Johnstone to pay the steward £400 in compensation and also instructed him to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.
