A bodybuilder left a man with blood gushing from a head wound after attacking him with a beer bottle in the centre of Elgin.
Bartlomiej Gazdowicz was spared a jail term only because the offence was the first time he had been in trouble with police.
The 22-year-old was drinking with friends when his group became embroiled in a dispute with other revellers on the town’s High Street at 1.45am on Saturday, February 13.
The trouble escalated when Katherine Hutchison, who appeared alongside Gazdowicz at Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday, ran at his friend and knocked him to the ground.
Hutchison, 19, was charged with “repeatedly” punching Damian Powlowski on the face with both hands.
Her lawyer, Robert Cruickshank, said his client “lashed out” after receiving unwanted attention from Mr Powlowski earlier in the night.
Fiscal, Alex Swain, said: “Other witnesses became involved and pulled her away from the complainer.
“But they then saw Gazdowicz swing a glass bottle at Mr Dodsworth’s face.
“Police found the victim bleeding heavily from his forehead and temple area.”
The court heard that Martin Dodsworth had been in Hutchison’s company at the time, and was later taken to Elgin’s Dr Gray’s Hospital.
Medics there found he had a “large quantity of cuts” on his head, with pieces of glass lodged within them.
Gazdowicz is originally from Poland but has lived in Scotland for the past eight years since his father moved to the country for work.
His solicitor, Matthew O’Neill, said his client was not aware it was against the law to carry glass bottles in the street.
Mr O’Neill added: “His main focus is keeping fit, and he doesn’t go out drinking very often.”
Gazdowicz, of Elgin’s Hay Street, admitted carrying an “offensive weapon” and assaulting Mr Dodsworth by striking him on the head with the bottle.
Sheriff Chris Dickson condemned Hutchison, of Priory Place in Elgin, for her “very poor behaviour” – but deferred sentence on her for nine months.
Sheriff Dickson told Gazdowicz: “If not for the fact you are a first offender, you would be going to prison.”
The fitness enthusiast was ordered to remain under supervision for six months, to pay his victim £500 in compensation and to perform 165 hours of community service in the next year.
