A 24-year-old Inverness man will be sentenced next month after a knife attack in the city in January.
Ashley Watson, described as an Inverness prisoner, admitted at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday assaulting George Costa in Rosehaugh Road on January 9 by repeatedly striking at him with a knife, gouging at one of his eyes and repeteadly striking him all to his injury.
He also pleaded guilty to breaching his bail curfew by carrying out the attack when he should have been observing the court restriction.
Sentence was deferred by Sheriff Margaret Neilson until June 15 for a background report and Watson was remanded in custody.
Defence solicitor Marc Dickson reserved his comments until then.
Fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart told the court that Watson was angered at Mr Costa asking him: why do you not speak to me any more?” when he confronted him outside his garden in the early hours.
Mr Urquhart went on: “Mr Costa, who is in his early 50s, said he didn’t walk to talk to him and to go away.”
Watson, who was holding a knife, approached Mr Costa and a struggle ensued, with Mr Costa sustaining a minor defensive injury to his hand. He didn’t require treatment to his injuries, which included bruising and swelling.
Mr Urquhart said it was only when Mr Costa’s 22 year old son intervened that the attack was stopped.