A man has been warned he cannot take the law into his own hands after assaulting a reveller who he claims made a racist comment towards him.
Mohammed Iqbal, from Methil, had been in Aberdeen for a family wedding and was enjoying an evening in town the night before the ceremony.
But when another reveller passed them on Union Street and made a racist comment, the 23-year-old responded with violence.
Fiscal depute Andrew McMann told Aberdeen Sheriff Court Iqbal and a number of other wedding guests had travelled to Aberdeen on September 9 2021 and booked into a hotel.
Punched victim twice on head
Iqbal and his group left Revolution bar on Belmont Street at 3am on the day of the wedding and made their way towards McDonald’s on Union Street.
Iqbal passed the complainer on the pavement and “began a conversation with him, which became heated”.
A witness then heard someone in Iqbal’s group say “let’s get the guy in the black jacket”.
Mr McMann said: “The accused then proceeded to punch the complainer to the head twice, causing him to fall backwards and land on the concrete pavement.”
Emergency crews attended and the injured man was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where he was found to have a two-inch laceration on the back of his head, which had to be glued shut.
Iqbal, of McDonald Street, Methil, pled guilty to assault to injury.
‘The complainer made a racist comment’
Defence agent Mike Monro told the court his client and others had travelled from Fife for the family wedding.
“He maintains that the complainer made a racist comment as the accused and others were walking down Union Street.
“The complainer was asked to repeat what he had said and he did repeat it.
“My client maintains it’s not him who says ‘let’s get the guy in the black jacket’.
“Words were exchanged.
“The accused comes in second in regards to any kind of physical violence.
“He punches him, knocking him to the ground and then they carry on down Union Street.”
Police ‘sympathy’
The solicitor was asked by Sheriff James Mulgrew if Iqbal – a first-time offender – missed the wedding.
“No, the police had a bit of sympathy for him,” Mr Monro replied.
“They released him on undertaking.”
Sheriff Mulgrew told Iqbal: “If anybody appears before this court and admits any form of racist conduct then the court will deal with them very seriously but the court cannot permit anyone taking the law into their own hands.”
He ordered Iqbal to complete 45 hours of unpaid work.
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