Inverness man who threw rocks at taxi told to "grow up"
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Jools Grant went on the attack after a taxi driver said he couldn't help him start his car.
Sheriff Margaret Neilson also told him to "take the opportunity" to stay out of custody as she ordered him to carry out 300 hours of unpaid community work – the maximum number of hours allowed – and placed him under a year's social work supervision as an alternative to prison.
Sentence had been deferred for a background report on the 21-year-old of Springfield Gardens, Inverness, who had previously admitted behaving in a threatening manner towards the taxi driver. He had also pleaded guilty to assaulting him by punching him on the head and brandishing a knife at him on January 12 this year.
Depute fiscal David Morton said the driver was picking up a neighbour of Grant’s when the accused asked him for help.
He said Grant took exception when the driver said he could not assist because of having a passenger.
Grant threw three or four punches, striking the driver on the face, then threw rocks and other items at the taxi when the man drove off.
The taxi driver stopped along the road when his wing mirror was struck and went back to see where Grant was.
It was at this point that he appeared brandishing a knife.
Solicitor Rory Gowans said at an earlier hearing that Grant had been drinking heavily and had no recollection of events.
