A man who headbutted a stranger in Union Square in a row about wearing a facemask has been ordered to pay his victim £200.
Owen Smith’s 24-year-old victim had been sitting between Starbucks and Levi’s when he was approached by Smith and another male in December last year.
After a few aggressive comments about the man’s facemask, Smith headbutted him.
The victim then told his mother who tracked Smith, 26, down and discovered he had mistaken him for someone else.
Smith previously pled guilty to a charge of assault to injury, and has now returned to the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court to be sentenced.
‘You’re what’s wrong with the world’
Defence agent Gregor Kelly, representing Smith, said: “He perceived there was some muttering about him not wearing a mask and there were words exchanged and he accepts he escalated matters and did act in the manner narrated.
“He had been socially isolated and hadn’t been out a great deal.”
Mr Kelly said Smith, an electrical tester, had “adversely suffered mental health difficulties” during the pandemic.
The solicitor added: “He wishes to extend his apologies to this young man who was the victim of this assault.”
Sheriff Andrew Miller told Smith, of Victoria Street, Buckie: “You were someone who experienced the psychological ill-effects of the various lockdowns and in December 2021 in Union Square clearly there were lingering issues regarding the wearing of masks.
“You weren’t wearing a mask and the complainer was.
“You perceived yourself to be the subject of some kind of criticism but you accept that escalated to the extent of a physical assault.”
He ordered Smith to pay his victim £200 in compensation and imposed a further £320 fine.
At an earlier hearing, fiscal depute Alan Townsend told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the incident happened around 5.20pm on December 22 2021 when the victim was approached by two men he didn’t know.
Mr Townsend said: “One asked him why he was wearing a mask.”
The male called him some “unpleasant words” and added: “Let’s go outside. You’re what’s wrong with the world.”
As the male kept getting closer to him, the complainer put his hands out to keep him away, at which point Smith headbutted him to the bridge of his nose, leaving it bruised.
‘It’s my son you assaulted’
Smith then left, but his victim told his mother, who was shopping nearby, and she immediately set about looking for Smith.
When she found and challenged him, Smith said: “He was kicking me on Union Street.
“I went to school with him, he’s just an a***.”
However, when she asked Smith what the victim’s name was, he replied “Michael”.
She said: “His name’s not Michael. It’s my son you assaulted.”
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