An assault accused deliberately injured himself so he would be admitted to the hospital where his alleged victim was a patient.
Paul Macdonald was accused of hitting Jason Brewer on the head with a bottle in November, causing severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
The 30-year-old was released on bail on condition he stayed away from Mr Brewer, who he described as an unofficial “brother-in-law”.
But Macdonald, now described as a prisoner in Inverness, deliberately hurt his neck and was admitted to the same ward as Mr Brewer.
Mr Brewer died on February 8. His cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Macdonald’s not guilty plea to the assault charge was accepted yesterday.
But appearing at Inverness Sheriff Court, he admitted breaching the special bail condition and was jailed for a year, backdated to November 16.
The assault was alleged to have happened in Lochalsh Court in Inverness on November 11.
Fiscal Roderick Urquhart told Sheriff Margaret Neilson: “The special bail condition was that he did not approach, contact or communicate, nor attempt to do so, with Jason Brewer until the conclusion of the case.
“On November 14, he attended at the A and E department of Raigmore Hospital seeking treatment for a self-inflicted injury to his neck.
“He was admitted to a room in ward 6a. Also in ward 6 was Jason Brewer. Hospital staff were made aware of the special bail condition and efforts were made to keep them in different areas.”
Mr Urquhart said that late on Sunday, November 15 staff became aware of Macdonald standing next to Mr Brewer’s bed talking to him and he was asked to leave.
Macdonald’s agent, solicitor Marc Dickson, told the court that Jason Brewer had been in a four-year relationship with Macdonald’s sister and they regarded themselves as brothers-in-law.
He said: “My client had been told that Jason had been admitted for a succession of epileptic seizures and he wanted to go and see him.
“The matter of Jason Brewer being the complainer was not discussed.”
Sheriff Neilson asked Mr Dickson: “He deliberately injured himself to gain access to hospital to see Jason Brewer?”
Mr Dickson replied: “Yes, but it has to be said he has a history of self-harm.”
The sheriff told Macdonald: “You have an appalling record of previous convictions and this was a blatant breach of a special bail condition.”
