Two Easter Ross men are facing jail after they were found guilty of attacking a man in a Conon Bridge car park last October.
David Macleod and Lee Watson denied punching and kicking William Fraser near his home in Windsor Place.
But Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood yesterday found the pair guilty, and warned them they may be jailed for the offence.
The court heard 30-year-old electrician Mr Fraser was on his way to deliver an inhaler for his daughter to his estranged wife.
She had been with friends – including her new partner, Watson – in Windsor Place when she called Mr Fraser to make the delivery.
But when Mr Fraser arrived, he was confronted by a group of people including MacLeod, Watson and his ex-wife running towards him, shouting and swearing.
He told the court: “I got out of my car and began walking towards the safety of my mother’s house when I was headlocked from behind by MacLeod and pulled to the ground.
“He was drunk and shouting and bawling. He punched and kicked me and then Lee joined in. I was curled up on the ground but I managed to get up and I landed one blow on David.”
Neighbours David Hayden, 34, and his partner Rachel Jones, 26, said they were about to go bed when they heard a commotion and shouting and swearing outside.
They looked out of their bathroom window and saw both men punching and kicking Mr Fraser.
Mr Hayden refuted defence suggestions by Watson’s solicitor Alison Foggo that her client was trying to break up the fight between Macleod and Mr Fraser.
He added: “I can certainly say William Fraser was not the aggressor in the situation. David Macleod was on top and he was getting the better of William.
“Davy went for him. He hit him knocking him to the ground then Lee went for him.”
Mr Fraser suffered a black eye and bruised ribs, but did not require medical attention.
Watson, 33, of 17 Deas Avenue, Dingwall, and Macleod, 23, of 76 Windsor Place, Conon Bridge will be sentenced on June 16.
But Sheriff Fleetwood warned them: “When somebody is kicked and punched about the head the starting point is jail. I will defer sentence to see if there are any other possible disposals.”
