A broadband engineer has been fined almost £2,000 after brawling with a co-worker outside a Moray pub and shouting sectarian songs at police officers.
Michael Green was laying fibre optic cables at Forres when he and his colleagues visited the town’s Legends Bar.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard the 19-year-old, who lives in Ireland, had “drunk far too much” when he became aggressive towards companion Michael McMonagle.
He later assaulted a woman who tried to break up the fracas, and bit a man who intervened to pull him from Mr McMonagle.
When police officers arrived, Green hurled insults towards them about being “British”.
The court heard he also “made references to the way the Irish had been historically treated by the British”.
Fiscal Kevin Corrins added: “The accused then sang a song which constables recognised as being sectarian.”
Mr Corrins said the drama unfolded at 1.15am on Sunday, July 17.
He said: “The accused and Mr McMonagle had an an argument inside the pub and took it onto the High Street.
“The accused punched him on the body, and they struggled to the ground.
“A witness, Karina Collie, tried to separate the two but Green pushed her over and she grazed her knees.
“Mason Connor tried to do the same and the accused bit him on his right arm, leaving marks and bruising.”
Green, of Letterkilly in Milltown Malbay, admitted three assault charges, and one of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards police officers.
Defence solicitor Ian Maltman explained that his client had no recollection of the incident, and was “embarrassed” when informed of his actions.
Mr Maltman added: “My client is an Irish national who was working in Scotland providing fibre optic cable for BT.
“He is extremely contrite and is embarrassed by his behaviour.”
After being advised that Green earned a “substantial” wage, and was unwilling to perform community service, Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov fined him £1,900.
