A Dundee man due to start a new life in Australia had to make a mad dash to Aberdeen Airport after being arrested at his leaving party and kept in the cells overnight for assault.
Alistair Joseph Davidson Park (18), whose address was given as Broomwell Gardens, Broughty Ferry, was fined £200 by Sheriff Jamie Gilmour at the sheriff court on Tuesday after admitting two charges of assault and one charge of culpable and reckless behaviour.
He admitted that at the Downfield Hotel on Monday night he assaulted a man by punching him and assaulted a woman by kicking her on the head and body while she was on the ground, and smashing a glass item.
Depute fiscal Donna Davidson told the court Parkin had gone to the Downfield Hotel to say farewell to his friends and a fight had broken out between two women unknown to him.
She said the accused jumped in and for no reason punched the man and they started fighting. Having spotted that the girl had fallen to the ground, Parkin then kicked her on the head and body.
By this time there was a large commotion going on and the accused was restrained and put out the pub. Police were called and he was arrested.
Solicitor Kevin Hampton said Parkin and his family were due to fly to Australia at 3pm yesterday on a two-year visa and he had gone out to celebrate.
His mother and father had travelled ahead to the airport, although some members of his family were in court with him.
Mr Hampton said his client was a first offender and had drunk too much. He said he didn’t know what affect the conviction will have on his client, but Parkin just wanted to put the matter behind him.
Mr Hampton asked for the matter to be dealt with on the spot to allow him to travel to Australia, which the sheriff agreed to.
Parkin paid the £200 fine at the bar. He was admonished on the third charge.
He left the court around 12.30pm to get to Aberdeen and join his parents for the 3pm flight to London.