Police have charged a man in connection with a violent assault in a north-east town.
Banff man Alexander Sutherland, 59, had been walking home from a pub on the morning of Monday, March 13, when he was brutally attacked by up to five men who fled the scene in a dark coloured Audi.
The assailants left him unconscious and bloodied in Stuart Lane.
He subsequently needed 11 stitches to close wounds to his face and is still in pain.
Police are continuing to appeal to members of the public for help in tracking down those responsible for the attack, but last night revealed that one person had been charged.
A spokeswoman said: “A 47-year-old man has been charged in connection with the matter.
“But inquiries are on-going and we are still appealing for any witnesses to come forward.”
Earlier this week, Mr Sutherland branded the incident an “unprovoked attack”.
A popular figure in his hometown, the former council worker has played in local bands for the last 40 years and is currently the drummer in a ceilidh group.
He said he was not a regular pub-goer and had only been at the Railway Inn on the night of the attack because he had been celebrating a friend’s birthday.
Mr Sutherland revealed the last time he had been to a pub was about 20 years ago.
He had been walking home with a family member and a friend when they became aware of a group of men approaching them prior to the incident.
Mr Sutherland said he was struck on the head before being beaten.
He added: “I felt a big smack on the back of my head which knocked me clean out.
“I never felt any other blows – but they have obviously kicked and punched me on the face.
“I woke up in Chalmers Hospital and could feel the blood pumping out of the wounds and running down the side of my face.
“I am lucky to still be here [alive].”
