A kilted ex-soldier known as Rocky attacked an 81-year-old landowner who he claimed called him “lower class scum”.
Ian Rockliffe had denied assaulting Stephen Paterson in a Highland town – but was found guilty after a trial.
The 63-year-old, who is now a crofter at Kinlochlaggan claimed he had been involved in an ongoing dispute with friends of Mr Peterson, ex-airman Glyn Morgan-Davies and his wife Virginia.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard yesterday that Mr Paterson was assaulted by “Rocky” Kingussie’s High Street on March 24.
Mr Paterson told the court that Rockliffe had accused him of drink-driving, but denied he had said “lower class scum” as he passed him.
Mr Paterson told the court: “We don’t get on and I try to avoid him as much as possible. He has been involved in an altercation with friends of mine before.
“I walked past him to go into the shop and he grabbed me by the waist and pushed me against wheelie bins. Then he brought his knee up and kneed me in the groin.
“He was shouting something about me being a drink-driver and that I shouldn’t be in charge of a car. I had not been drinking.”
Under cross-examination by defence lawyer John Macoll, Mr Paterson denied he was trying to get Rockliffe into trouble because of his friendship with the Morgan-Davies family.
He said it was “utterly untrue” that he had called Rockliffe “lower class scum” and denied that Rockliffe was defending himself from an attack by him.
He said: “I did not take a swing at him and I had not been drinking.”
Local hairdresser Amanda Mackay, 44, told the court: “I could see Rocky pushing Mr Paterson against the wheelie bins and bring his knee up to his groin area.
“I was so shocked seeing an older man from the village getting pushed about. He was shouting at Rocky to stop, his glasses had fallen off, his arm was grazed and he was dishevelled.
“Rocky was saying that Mr Paterson was drunk and had been driving, but I couldn’t smell alcohol off either of them.”
Rockliffe, who denied pushing Mr Paterson and striking him on the body, was found guilty and fined £200.
Outside the court, he insisted he had been insulted by Mr Paterson.
He said: “He called me lower class scum and it is not the first time he has made comments towards me. On another occasion he said that people like me shouldn’t own a croft. What right does he have to say that?
“He is a friend of the Morgan-Davies who are taking me to the civil court over the felling of trees.
“A previous criminal prosecution against me failed so hopefully the civil action will fail too.”
