An assault sparked by a request to come and collect mail left a man with a permanent injury to his smile, a court heard.
Michael Smith had arranged to have his mail, mostly benefits correspondence, sent to his victim’s address.
However messages sent between the two about its collection infuriated him so much he punched his former friend “five or six times on the head” causing his permanent disfigurement.
The incident took place at Fairfield Park, close to its junction with Happyhillock Road, on January 11, 2016.
He court heard after the assault Smith’s victim fled across the road to get away from him, narrowly missing being hit by a car, and took shelter in a takeaway.
A passer-by, seeing his face covered in blood, called the police.
Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson said the 31-year-old victim had allowed the accused to stay at his address overnight because he was homeless, however he claimed he did not agree to let Smith use it as an address for his mail.
She said Facebook messages were exchanged about the mail, and they agreed to meet up, only for the victim to be assaulted.
Ms Robertson said: “The complainer was taken to hospital with cuts to the inside and outside of his lip. He required four stitches in total.
“The injury was serious as it affects the area of the mouth where you smile.”
Michael Smith, 29, a prisoner at HMP Perth, admitted repeatedly punching his victim on the head and knocking him to the ground to his injury and permanent disfigurement as well as robbing him of a pair of headphones.
Scott Norrie, defending said Smith’s position was that he picked the headphones up after his victim had fled and took them home.
He added Smith and his victim have known each other for 20 years.
Sheriff Tom Hughes sentenced Smith to 20 months in prison, which was backdated to January 13 when he was remanded in custody.