A man punched the manager of a world-renowned golf hotel after drinking too much on a New Year’s excursion with his wife.
Niven Semple was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a fracas at the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews.
Semple appeared from custody at Dundee Sheriff Court to plead guilty to two charges, despite telling Sheriff Alastair Carmichael he had “no recollection” of the events which had unfolded.
Semple and his wife had checked into the hotel on Tuesday, the court heard, and had been drinking in the Old Course bar when the incident began.
Depute fiscal Trina Sinclair said: “The accused and his wife checked in at the Old Course hotel on January 2.
“During Tuesday evening, the witnesses were working in the bar. The accused was causing issues and was told he would not be served any more alcohol.
“He agreed to settle the bill but continued to cause issues. After that the bar staff asked to leave and he was told he could return to his hotel room or leave the building.
“Mr Milne, the night manager, then asked for the police to be contacted. The accused started to prod Mr Milne on the chest then punched him in the face.
“The accused put his fist against the table. Police arrived at about 12.55am.
“He was verbally abusive to the officers, shouting ‘f**k you’. He was arrested and continued to shout and swear and banged on the door of his cell.
“The accused was cautioned and charged and replied saying ‘I can’t remember that, you were being physically abusive to me.”
Mr Milne, the night manager at the Old Course Hotel, sustained a cut to his lip as a result of the assault.
Defence solicitor Kevin Hampton said of Semple: “He has no recollection of events at all.
“He has no previous convictions but does have a problem with alcohol.
“He is a working man and a married man with no dependents and has not come before the attention of the court before.
“He is concerned for his wife and is ashamed of his behaviour.”
Semple, of Brucefield Avenue, Dunfermline, pled guilty to repeatedly striking William Milne on the body and repeatedly punching him on the face to his injury at the Old Course Hotel on January 3.
The 42-year-old further admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner on the same date at both the hotel and police headquarters in Dundee by shouting, swearing, banging a glass table, using offensive language and acting aggressively.
Sheriff Carmichael fined him £1,300, £500 of which will be paid as compensation to Mr Milne.
