A man who punched his girlfriend’s brother on the head in a row about heroin addiction has been fined more than £600.
Neil Ironside, 44, of no fixed address, was a passenger in a car belonging to his other half’s brother on March 2 two years ago.
During the journey, the siblings quarrelled, and Ironside got involved in the altercation that soon spiralled into violence.
The single punch landed Ironside in the dock at Peterhead Sheriff Court, where he admitted to hitting and threatening the other man, leaving with a fine of £680.
Ironside was travelling in the car with his girlfriend and her two brothers down Charlotte Street, Peterhead, around 1.30pm on the day he lost control.
Pair had to be separated by member of the public
An argument broke out, and Ironside and his girlfriend were told to get out of the vehicle by the man who would go on to be punched.
After removing shopping from the car, Ironside delivered a single blow to one of the brothers.
Fiscal depute Claire Stewart explained: “The accused has then punched [the brother] to the head and shouted at him, threatening to kill him.”
The pair were eventually separated by a member of the public.
They went on their separate ways.
Ironside’s defence solicitor, Stuart Flowerdew, said the confrontation took place when the conversation in the car turned to another member of the brothers’ family.
He was described in court as struggling with heroin addiction while their father was “extremely unwell”.
‘Completely unacceptable’ behaviour
Mr Flowerdew went on: “The particular background to this is, there are various difficulties within the [brothers’] family,” he said.
“The argument was about [their relative’s] continued drug use.
“Mr Ironside accepts that he became involved when he shouldn’t have. There’s a punch thrown. The matter resolves very quickly thereafter.”
Sentencing Ironside, who was described as working in the fishing industry, Sheriff Robert McDonald told him that he would be allowed to pay his fine at a rate of £100 a month.
“The charges do feature an assault, which I have to take sufficiently seriously,” the sheriff said.
He added: “Your behaviour, also, requires to be recognised as completely unacceptable.”