A “good Samaritan” had part of his nose bitten off after he acted to help two women he thought he saw in trouble in a car.
Alasdair Ross has been left traumatised by the a violent assault, which left bits of his nose on the ground, and said yesterday after his two of his attackers were jailed for 18 months: “They should have got more. I was only trying to do a good deed.
“It has had a great mental as well as physical impact on me. Fortunately my injuries have healed but I have been left with a permanent scar on my nose.”
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that the ‘females’ were actually two long-haired men who had travelled north with Alan Clark and Graham Pearson for a night out in the city.
Alasdair Ross, 53, tapped on the vehicle’s window because he was concerned, only to be chased away by Clark, Pearson and an unidentified man.
The two men caught up with Mr Ross, and in an attack lasting 22 seconds, he was left lying unconscious on the pavement, having had the septum of his nose and part of his right nostril torn away by Clark’s bite.
Mr Ross, from Inverness, was then repeatedly kicked and stamped on his head by Pearson, who admitted assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of life.
Pearson, of Auchendarroch Street, Greenock, appeared at Inverness two weeks ago when he was jailed. His co-accused was due to stand trial yesterday but pleaded guilty before it began.
Clark, described as a Kilmarnock prisoner, admitted assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement. His sentence was added to a 21-month period he is currently serving, imposed at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in September.
Fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart told Sheriff Margaret Neilson that Mr Ross had been watching boxing with friends and was returning home about 1am.
“Mr Ross spoke to Clark and Pearson and the conversation quickly degenerated into an argument.” Mr Urquhart went on.
As Mr Ross moved from the car down the street, Mr Urquhart said he threw a bottle away. Mr Ross was then chased and beaten up by the three men who left him lying motionless on the ground.
Mr Urquhart added that the septum had been detached from Mr Ross’s nose, the cartilage was exposed and chunks of the right side of his nose had been bitten off.
Part of nasal tissue was found by police at the scene in Chapel Street, Inverness.
Clark’s lawyer, Paul Gallagher said: “He had come to Inverness from Ayrshire with friends and he had consumed alcohol and illicit substances.
“His recollection of events is blurred but he accepts it was a violent attack started by something trivial of which he is thoroughly ashamed.”
