Footballer hurled glass at opponent during after-match drink in Highland hotel
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A footballer scarred an opponent for life after throwing a glass at him during an after-match drink at an Inverness hotel.
The incident happened at the Chieftain Hotel in Millburn Road on February 29 last year when the two unnamed teams met to socialise.
But it turned violent after a man began "goading" construction worker Matthew Shewan, Inverness Sheriff Court was told.
Fiscal depute Sharon Ralph told Sheriff Ian Cruickshank that a colleague had viewed CCTV footage of the assault, which Shewan admitted through his lawyer, John MacColl.
Shewan was fined £680.
However the sheriff added that, from what he had been told about the issue of provocation in the incident, he would not order him to also pay compensation to his victim.
Mrs Ralph said: "My colleague says that Mr Shewan was around six metres away from the complainer, who was goading the accused.
"Shewan then picked up a glass and threw it with force at [the victim’s] forehead."
The court was told the man assaulted required stitches which have left permanent scarring.
Mr MacColl said: "There was an amateur football match and both teams retired to the hotel.
"There were about 20-25 persons there sitting around six tables and a football match was playing on the television.
"This was pre-lockdown.
"My client had taken alcohol but was not intoxicated. He can’t remember what exactly was being said to him, but he was very upset."
He added that the victim’s arms were outstretched – "something like we would see at football matches in the eighties" – effectively inviting a reaction from Shewan.
"Then he acts in the manner described," he said.
Mr MacColl added that it was accepted it was still "a serious offence" but his client had acted out of character.
