A grieving husband beat up and stamped on a football fan who said his team was “s***” in a heated bar brawl in Inverurie.
Alastair Maitland had been drinking in the Drouthy Laird in Inverurie with his son before the pair planned to scatter his wife’s ashes the next day.
But a “rowdy” football fan began engaging in banter with the 62-year-old, which quickly escalated.
When the man went to give Maitland a hug, he “misconstrued” the move as an act of aggression and responded with violence.
Fiscal depute Ryan Diamond told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the incident happened around 7.30pm on August 26 2021.
‘He simply misjudged the hug’
He said the man, who was there with a friend, had been “walking back and forth to the bar chanting football songs and being rowdy”.
Mr Diamond went on: “Several times, the man approached the accused and made comments about the football team that he supported.”
This was initially in “good spirits”, although the male was asked a number of times by the bartender to calm down.
‘Bar brawl effectively erupting over something fairly innocuous’
Throughout this, the man’s friend remained seated at the bar.
As the evening progressed, the male continued engaging Maitland in conversation.
At one point, he commented that the team Maitland supported was “s***”.
Mr Diamond said: “A verbal altercation ensued between the man and the accused.
“The man went to hug the accused. At that time, the accused grabbed him, dragged him to the door and tried to push him outside.
“The accused kicked the complainer to the crotch area and then, unprovoked, punched his friend with a closed fist.
“He, at that time, was still seated and had not been involved in the initial scuffle.”
The punch caused the man to fall off his barstool.
Maitland then returned to focusing on the first male, who had also fallen to the ground, and stamped on his crotch and leg area.
Maitland then left and police were contacted.
The man who had been punched was left with a cut to his cheek which was bleeding but declined medical attention.
Maitland, whose address was given in court papers as Stonehaven, but who now lives in Singapore, pled guilty to two charges of assault to injury.
‘Disgraceful behaviour’
Defence agent Liam Mcallister said his client, who was not present during the hearing due to living abroad, did not plan to return to Scotland.
He said: “The court will be disturbed to hear about a bar brawl effectively erupting over something fairly innocuous.”
The solicitor explained Maitland had been back in the country to be with his son as they planned to scatter his wife’s ashes the next day.
He said: “Father and son were bonding, reflecting, toasting her memory, but did so consuming far too much alcohol sadly.
“The initial interaction was good-natured. He simply misjudged the hug. He misconstrued that as an act of aggression.”
Sheriff Margaret Hodge branded the offences “disgraceful behaviour” and ordered Maitland to pay a fine totalling £680.
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