Three men involved in an assault outside a Ross-shire nightclub have been ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work each and pay £500 compensation to their victim.
Piotr Ratajewski, 24, of Bridge View, Conon Bridge, 23-year-old Robert Kostrzewa, Ormidale Place, Dingwall, and Marcin Schroeder, 28, of Jubilee Park Court, Dingwall, appeared for sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court after background reports had been prepared.
They all admitted assaulting Scott Paterson by punching and kicking him in a car park behind The Picture House, Dingwall, to his severe injury on December 21, 2014.
Mr Paterson sustained a broken cheekbone and was off work for three months, Sheriff David Sutherland was told.
Fiscal depute Ross Carvel told the court that there was an early morning altercation outside the nightclub with Kostrzewa claiming he had been struck with a mug by someone.
“Five Polish men were involved with Mr Paterson and three others. Mr Paterson went to help a friend and was challenging people to fight when he was struck on the face by one.
“The other four Polish men joined in and Mr Paterson was punched and kicked on the head. His friends and club staff came to his aid and the five men made off.
“His injury required mini metal plates to be inserted.”
Ratjewski’s lawyer, Aileen Macinnes told the court: “There were initial incidents, the victim was the aggressor but my client accepts he was art and part with others and although in a background of hostility and racial abuse, his response was excessive.”
Sheriff Sutherland told the trio: “I take into account the victim had initially become involved in an argument and an assault. But the response was excessive and the court has to have concern that people act in this way without concern for the victim.
“Retaliation like this cannot be accepted by this court.”
