The father of a military policewoman involved in a bomb blast became enraged when he thought she was being bullied on a night out.
Kenneth Livie assaulted James Foster in Forfar town centre after homecoming drinks to welcome his daughter back from Afghanistan went sour.
The 49-year-old appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and admitted punching and kicking Mr Foster repeatedly on the head and body to his injury at The Cross in 2013.
His solicitor said existing tensions had come to a head during “an emotional night” in which Livie thought his daughter Claire had been assaulted and “gesticulated” at.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said Mr Foster went out to celebrate his daughter’s safe return in the town centre along with two witnesses.
All three went to the Troopers bar at the Queens Hotel and met Livie, his daughter and two friends, followed by an exchange of words.
After an initial confrontation, Mr Foster was escorted out of a side door and he and his friends went to a pub nearby.
The parties met again at Bar Ten, before a “large disturbance” broke out.
Ms Drummond added: “They were separated by bar staff but a brawl broke out including witness Foster and others.
“Accused Livie was then seen to repeatedly punch and kick him.”
Defence agent Michael Boyd said his client had no previous convictions and had been in no further trouble.
He said: “They’d had a surprise party for his daughter, a serving military police officer who had completed two tours in Afghanistan.
“On the second tour of duty her vehicle had been attacked by an IED.
“From Mr Livie’s perspective, he had been told his daughter had been assaulted by the complainer.”
Fining Livie £200, visiting Sheriff Reid said: “I take into account the background as narrated by your solicitor but also that of the fiscal, where four strangers were so concerned they had to pull you off that man.”
Livie, of Well Road, Lunanhead, by Forfar admitted punching and kicking Mr Foster repeatedly on the head and body to his injury at The Cross, High Street, Forfar on November 2 2013.
Co-accused Claire Livie, Emma Moffat and Samuel Plant had not guilty pleas to assault charges accepted by the Crown.