“Bad blood” between two Angus towns was blamed for a pub assault which saw a pensioner attack another.
Ernest Cheyne, from Brechin, repeatedly punched David Hill to his injury at the Star Hotel in Montrose over “back in the day” rivalry between the historic burghs.
The 66-year-old retired lorry driver appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court, which heard the first offender was full of “sincere remorse” but did not want to pay compensation to his victim because of “distant discontent” between the two.
Depute fiscal Bill Kermode said 66-year-old Mr Hill had been drinking in the Star Hotel with his friends for several hours before Cheyne came in on March 6 this year.
“At 4.10pm the complainer was sitting at the end of the bar near the toilet,” he said.
“The accused entered and ordered a drink and stood at the bar.
“After the accused was served he went to the toilets, and other patrons told bar staff he was banned from several pubs in Brechin.”
When he returned from the toilet, Cheyne became involved in “heated” discussion with Mr Hill and punched him repeatedly, after which the bar owner got him to leave.
Police traced Cheyne three days later.
Mr Kermode said the complainer sustained bruising and swelling and cuts around one eye, his lip and nose but did not seek medical attention.
Defence agent Craig Scott said: “The complainer is known to him. There is distant discontent between them.
“There is historic, back in the day, difficulty between those in Brechin and those in Montrose.”
Mr Scott said his client was told to go “back to Brechin” before he launched his attack.
“He is a retired lorry driver and is susceptible to conditions of low mood,” he said.
“Given the bad blood between the complainer and Mr Cheyne he is very keen to avoid any compensation – there is the criminal injuries route for that.”
Despite Mr Scott’s instructions, the fiscal said his notes did not allude to the parties knowing each other.
Cheyne, of Eastbank, admitted assaulting David Hill, repeatedly punching him on the head to his injury.
Noting Cheyne’s letter of “sincere remorse”, Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown deferred sentence to December 7 for him to be of good behaviour.
