Inverness incident saw man kick woman in city centre
A man who kicked a woman on the chin causing her to hit her head on a bike stand admitted to a sheriff: "My actions were nothing short of deplorable."
Paul Butler (43) was appearing for sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to assault and with a background report prepared.
Representing himself, the court had previously been told that a distressed woman reacted to Butler who approached her during a night out and she hit him with her handbag.
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But Butler, of Assynt Road, Inverness, then retaliated by kicking her as she leaned forward and connected with her head and chin.
His victim, who fell to the ground and hit her head on a bike stand in the city’s Church Street, had to be taken to Raigmore Hospital for a CT scan on the evening of June 3 this year.
It revealed bruising and a possible concussion, fiscal depute Sharon Ralph told Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald.
Butler told the court: "My actions were nothing short of deplorable. If I could apologise to the woman I would.
“Alcohol is no excuse but I was heavily intoxicated.
"I have started rehabilitation and I will tackle my problem. It was a simple moment of madness."
Butler added that he had been assaulted twice beforehand and he didn't mean for the woman to get injured. He explained he kicked out to move her away.
Butler was ordered to be of good behaviour until March 20 next year when he will reappear for sentence.
Sheriff Madonald told him: "Clearly you have an alcohol problem. Stay sober."
Butler admitted a charge of assault to injury.