A Kirriemuir man has narrowly avoided jail for an attack which left another party-goer with a broken cheekbone.
Stewart Douglas, 20, previously admitted that on November 2 last year at an address on Bellies Brae, Kirriemuir, he punched a man to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
Douglas, of Forfar Road, assaulted his victim after becoming involved in a row over a missing mobile phone.
The court previously heard the assault took place at around 3am after one of the accused’s friends started a verbal confrontation with the other man.
Defence agent Nick Markowski explained: “It occurred at a house party after he and others had been out drinking.
“There was an issue about a mobile phone going missing and an argument developed which didn’t involve Douglas.
“However, out of a misguided sense of loyalty and intoxication, he became involved and punched the complainer.”
The single punch left Douglas’s victim with a scar close to his left ear.
Mr Markowski added that the other man did not have anything to do with the missing mobile phone, which, it was later discovered, had simply been misplaced.
The party came to an abrupt end and the victim was helped to his mother’s home before being taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, complaining of jaw pain and blurred vision.
X-rays revealed a broken left cheekbone and the victim underwent surgery soon after.
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio ordered Douglas to complete a community payback order of 220 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to a custodial sentence.
He told Douglas: “You pled guilty to a serious charge of assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
“In the circumstances, I am satisfied that I can deal with this matter without imprisoning you. If you breach the terms of the order then you will be reported back to the court and your case will be looked at again.”
The sheriff also ordered Douglas to pay £400 in compensation to the other man.
He told the apprentice joiner: “That amount takes account of your means. It is not meant to reflect a valuation on the injury he suffered.”
Douglas was also placed on a supervision order for 12 months.