A man who stubbed a cigarette out on the neck of a Forfar nightclub bouncer has been given six months to save up to compensate the victim of his “highly dangerous” attack.
John Stewart had already been involved in a bust-up at a town pub when he was thrown out of Forfar’s Royal Hotel in the early hours of March 25.
Believing he was the victim of mistaken identity, he became enraged when he saw another door steward put his son in a headlock and stubbed out his cigarette on another security guard’s neck.
Stewart, of Market Street, Forfar appeared before Sheriff Derek Reekie having previously admitted behaving in a threatening manner at the Burns Bar, Forfar on March 25, a similar offence at Castle Street on the same date, and assaulting a man by extinguishing a cigarette on him to his injury.
Depute fiscal Stewart Duncan said the accused was told to leave because he had been previously banned from the nightclub but became threatening toward staff and called one bouncer a “monkey”.
Defence solicitor Brian Bell said it is clear from a report before the court he expressed regret, remorse and shame for his actions. He also accepted his behaviour was completely unacceptable.
“He rarely goes out and he hadn’t been at that particular premises for some time so he believed the door steward was mistaken in saying he was banned.
“He then saw his son becoming involved and the charge involving the cigarette, which he recognises is a serious offence, then happened.
“It is shameful behaviour but his last conviction was seven years ago.
“I recognise it is a difficult sentencing decision for the court given the seriousness of it, but I would respectfully suggest that sentence could be deferred and my client given time to then attend court with a sum of money which might be considered suitable compensation.”
Sheriff Reekie told Stewart: “You have an unenviable record, but I recognise there has been a significant gap, which hopefully demonstrates some maturity at the age of 55.
“This wasn’t just one flashpoint, it was a progressive incident, no doubt fuelled by alcohol, and the last event of stubbing out a cigarette on someone is really beyond the pale and highly dangerous.
“I will defer sentence for six months for you to prove that this was a blip, but I will mark the papers that even if you have been of good behaviour then court will not simply sweep this under the carpet – it is too serious for that.
“You will also come back to court with as substantial a sum as you feel able to accumulate so that I can make an appropriate compensation order at that time.”
