INVERNESS SHERIFF COURT: Trio sentenced over 'revenge attack' in Caithness
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Drugs played a key role in a brutal street assault in Wick by two men and a woman which left their victim with several facial fractures.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that 22-year-old Kyle Miller, described as an Inverness prisoner but who now lives in Aberdeen, and his two Wick co-accused, Damon Mackay (31) and 22-year-old Abi Macleod, had been taking Xanax before attacking Darren More on October 8, 2021.
But Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald had been told by the trio's lawyers that illicit substances had featured in their lives from a young age and all were now determined to do something about it.
The offence, which Macleod's solicitor George Mathers said was "some kind of revenge attack," happened on Dunnet Avenue, Wick, when Darren More arrived at the property.
As he let his dog out, he was approached by Miller who asked him if he was "Darren" before beginning to punch him on the face.
Fiscal depute Susan Love said Mr More managed to push Miller into the boot of his car before the other two joined in.
Mackay, of Huddart Street, Wick, told Mr More to let Miller go before unleashing a flurry of punches and Miller again joined in. Mr More then fell to the ground and Macleod, of Upper Dunbar Street, Wick, began kicking him on the head.
Ms Love said: "Mr More suffered facial fractures to his eye socket, cheek bone and sinuses, as well as having two black eyes, a bleeding nose and cuts and bruises."
The entire incident was captured on CCTV and the footage was previously played for Sheriff Macdonald, who deferred sentence for background reports. All three had admitted assault to severe injury.
After hearing from the legal teams, the sheriff decided against jailing them all.
Although she sentenced Miller to 16 months in prison, it was backdated to October 10 last year to reflect his time on remand. He will be released immediately but faces eight months on a supervised release order whereby he will be monitored closely by the authorities.
"This will not only protect the public but give you support," the sheriff told Miller.
Mackay and Macleod were each placed under a 7pm to 7am restriction of liberty order (ROLO) and instructed to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.
Mackay must wear an electronic tag for a year and be under social work supervision for three years, while Macleod's ROLO lasts six months with two years' supervision.
Mackay's lawyer David Patterson said his client had had "a change of attitude and had a purpose in life through his daughter".
Both must obey their supervising officers and take part in any programme required of them.
Sheriff Macdonald said: "This was a serious offence involving serious injuries and you could be jailed for it. But I understand where your behaviour comes from."
She told Mackay: "You have been in prison before and carried out acts of violence before, but I am just able to impose a sentence other than custody."
The sheriff told Macleod, who was originally from Alness before moving to Caithness several years ago: "You were equally responsible for this foul and violent assault."
