A 31-year-old man has been fined £500 at Arbroath Sheriff Court after knocking a man out with a single punch in a street assault.
James Barker, of Tayock Avenue, Montrose, was standing outside the Yard Nightclub with his girlfriend when the assault happened after a night’s drinking.
Barker admitted punching Mariusz Jaworowski on the face in George Street on April 28 which knocked him to the ground, whereby his head struck the ground and he was rendered unconscious.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said Barker approached Jaworowski around 2am and punched him once on the face causing him to fall and bang his head on the road.
She said he had blood on his face and door staff gave him first aid before he was taken to Ninewells Hospital by ambulance.
Defence agent Nick Markowski argued there had been some degree of provocation before his client punched the victim.
He said: “The complainer was completely unknown to Mr Barker. He was standing outside the nightclub with his girlfriend when the complainer had grabbed him and pulled him by the T-shirt.
“He should have walked away and would apologise to the court for his behaviour.”
Sheriff Fife said: “I don’t consider it necessary to order a report. I can deal with this by way of a fine.”