A shared taxi ride ended in violence with one passenger robbing the other at knifepoint.
Yesterday at Inverness Sheriff Court, 21-year-old Dingwall man Ryan Simpson, described as an Addiewell prisoner, admitted assaulting fisherman Jack MacLean and robbing him of a mobile phone and his wallet containing £100.
The offence took place after the cab stopped in Peffery Road, Dingwall on May 2.
Simpson, who has three pending deferred sentences, also has another more serious case involving a knife still to come to court.
The court heard Simpson, who was on four bail orders, followed Mr MacLean out of the Mallard Bar where both had been drinking and then asked to share his taxi.
Fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart said that on getting out, Simpson punched his victim three times in the face and threatened him with a seven-inch knife, demanding money.
Mr MacLean, who sustained a “burst nose”, managed to disarm Simpson and push him away, Mr Urquhart added.
However Simpson had managed to grab the money from the wallet and Mr MacLean’s new phone, before running away and dropping the phone on the way.
Mr Urquhart said Simpson was arrested less than an hour later.
Defence solicitor David Patterson asked Sheriff Margaret Neilson to call for a background report as his client was on a community payback order.
But he conceded that a jail sentence was inevitable.
Simpson was again remanded in custody and will re-appear on October 11 when several other of his outstanding cases will likely be dealt with also.
