Man battered friend at Inverness house because 'he was annoying me'
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A man suffered several fractures after his drinking buddy punched and kicked him on the head and body.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that 35-year-old Stewart Sinclair of Rosehaugh Road, Inverness was socialising in his house with a friend when he unexpectedly head-butted his guest on June 11, causing his nose to bleed.
Fiscal depute Emily Hood told Sheriff Sara Matheson that on seeing the blood fall on to his light coloured carpets, he became angry and punched his friend, causing him to fall onto the floor.
"He continued to punch and kick him to the head and body," Ms Hood said.
"A neighbour heard the disturbance and called the police. When officers attended, the accused answered the door and officers saw blood covering his hands and feet.
"He told them: 'I only used my hands and feet. He'll say I stabbed him. He got what he deserved. He was annoying me. It's me that done it all, I am not injured."
The court heard that the victim was taken to Raigmore Hospital after suffering multiple nasal fractures and required surgery to realign his nose, a broken cheek bone, burst eardrum, a cracked rib and a cut and swelling around his left eye.
Sentence was deferred until January 25 for a background report and defence solicitor Rory Gowans reserved his mitigation until then.
Sinclair's bail was continued.
