A fight arranged by former friends to settle “bad blood” resulted in a vicious glass attack, Elgin Sheriff Court heard yesterday.
Jordan Brown and Stuart Main, both 20, were out drinking in Keith’s Commercial Hotel on January 17 last year when they ran into Benjamin Rusling and his girlfriend.
Mr Rusling had previously been friendly with Main, of Westerton House, Grange, Keith, but, according to fiscal depute Kelly Mitchell told the court: “There was a previously unrelated matter between the two of them which created some bad blood.”
On the night of the attack, the pair exchanged words before Mr Rusling and his girlfriend went outside to wait for a taxi.
Ms Mitchell said Main followed the couple outside and told Mr Rusling he was “a dead man” before challenging him to a fight at Legion Lane West, Mid Street, Keith.
Main threw a punch at his victim, who pushed him back. He then picked up a small glass and threw it, striking him on the head and leaving his face covered in blood.
When Mr Rusling’s girlfriend become upset, Main attempted to give her a hug.
Mr Rusling pushed him away from her, which prompted Brown to step in and punch him in the face.
The court heard the fight stopped with the combatants shaking hands, agreeing not to get the police involved and walking away.
However, Mr Rusling needed four stitches for a 2cm cut to his head, and it was at this point that officers were called in.
Main and former Keith man Brown, now of Deeside Holiday Park, Peterculter, both admitted their roles in the incident.
Matthew O’Neill, representing Main, told the court his client accepted there was no excuse for his behaviour, but that he had managed to turn his life around.
“He has been of good behaviour for 18 months,” he said.
“He is working now as a labourer in Thurso and he is confident he can leave his offending years behind him.”
Brown’s solicitor Robert Cruickshank, said: “The reason why my client did get involved there was some sort of pushing towards his pal. He accepts he reacted and punched the complainer once.”
Sheriff Peter Grant-Hutchison told the pair they were being spared jail – this time.
He said: “You can’t afford to have any other instances like this or it will be a prison sentence, but, in these circumstances, I’m going to impose a financial penalty.”
Main was fined £800 while Brown received a £600 penalty.
