A sheriff told a 28-year-old father-of-six he was an “embarrassment to Inverness and himself” after he carried out an unprovoked city-centre attack which went viral on social media.
Noel Sutherland was jailed for eight months at Inverness Sheriff Court after being filmed throwing his victim into the path of an oncoming car in front of the man’s pregnant partner.
Moment man thrown into side of moving car during street fight captured on film
He also kicked and repeatedly punched Ian Chisholm on the head and body in the attack in Bridge Street, captured on film.
Ten minutes after the September 4 attack, Sutherland boarded a bus in Academy Street and assaulted Steven Johnstone by repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told yesterday that both men were told to get off the bus by the driver – but the fight continued with Sutherland sitting astride Mr Johnstone while he was on the ground and attempting to stamp on his head to his injury.
That incident was caught on CCTV and police arrested Sutherland shortly afterwards.
Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald told Sutherland: “These are appalling offences, both reckless and dangerous. The images of the Bridge Street attack were placed on social media and were an embarrassment to Inverness and to you.”
Sutherland, of Glendoe Terrace, Inverness, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault to injury and sentence had been deferred for a background report.
The outcry over the assaults prompted an increased police presence in the city centre and praise from the police for the members of the public for providing information.
Fiscal depute Fiona Murray told the court that Mr Chisholm and his partner had come out of McDonald’s and were approached by Sutherland asking for a cigarette.
“This was refused by Mr Chisholm and Sutherland became aggressive. Mr Chisholm walked away and one witness heard someone say: ‘You had better run, he has a knife.’
“Sutherland ran towards Mr Chisholm, grabbed him, and threw him into the path of an oncoming car. Then he repeatedly punched and kicked him.”
Defence solicitor Rory Gowans said his client had “exploded on the day”.
