A Forfar man who punched another gym-goer after an argument over missing money has been sentenced to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work at the town’s sheriff court.
Ross John Farquharson, 22, of Goosecroft, was invited to go outside to discuss the matter by the other man at Lochside Leisure Centre on Craig o’ Loch Road, which he took as an invitation for a fight.
Farquharson admitted he punched the man on the head, knocking him to the ground and then repeatedly punched him to his injury on August 28 last year.
Depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy said witnesses estimated that Farquharson threw between 10 and 15 punches before other people at the gym intervened.
She said: “At 6.30pm the complainer signed into the gym. A friend of the accused approached him alleging that he had taken money from someone else.
“The other man tried to explain that there had been a mistake.
“Farquharson then approached the man and said ‘you took the money’ and they both faced up to each other. The complainer left the area.
“About an hour later the complainer approached Farquharson and said ‘do you want to discuss this outside?’
“The complainer didn’t want a fight but this was how the accused took this phrase.”
After the assault took place outside the gym an ambulance was called for Farquharson’s victim who required to stay overnight at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
He sustained bruising to the right side of his forehead and left eye, five small lacerations on his face and swelling to his jaw and ears.
Ms Kennedy added: “When interviewed by police, the accused said he thought he was the one being attacked.”
Defence agent Nick Markowski said his client thought the other man wanted to fight him outside.
“As soon as they are outside he punched the man and gets on top of him. Other people quickly intervened,” he said.