A barmaid was forced to flee a Perthshire hotel after an abusive customer began to pelt her with a hail of glasses, Perth Sheriff Court was told.
Terrified Lynn Morton was struck in the face by one of the missiles before Blair Jamieson could be restrained by patrons at the Log Cabin Hotel in Kirkmichael.
Fortunately for her and her assailant the glass did not smash and Jamieson was told that this factor alone had saved him from a possible custodial sentence.
The court heard that Ms Morton had been forced to endure an evening of offensive comments from the out of work lorry driver, who had been drinking steadily at the bar with friends.
Jamieson was described by his solicitor as a “laid-back kind of guy” but this demeanour deserted him after he was asked to leave the bar following last orders on August 7, 2010.
After he responded to the request by directing another offensive comment towards the complainer, depute fiscal Rebecca Kynaston said Ms Morton had snapped, and had thrown the contents of a glass in his direction.
That error of judgment subsequently cost the barmaid her job but at the time it also incited a furious response from Jamieson.
“In retaliation for this the accused picked up a number of glasses from the bar and began throwing them in the direction of the complainer,” Ms Kynaston told the court.
“While most of them missed, one hit her on the left cheek. She ran out of the bar and out of the hotel, while other witnesses restrained the accused.
“The complainer contacted the police and on their arrival they found her to be visibly upset but otherwise uninjured and she did not require medical attention.”
Jamieson, of Glenkilrie Farm Cottage, Blacklunans, Blairgowrie, later appeared at court to admit a charge that on August 7 2010, he assaulted Lynn Morton and threw a glass at her, striking her on the face.
Solicitor Cliff Culley said of his client, “He is remorseful and has taken steps to address his drinking to ensure that he does not get into this type of incident again.”
Sheriff Michael Fletcher said he had considered whether a custodial sentence was appropriate but eventually decided against it.
“I accept that there was no injury and that there was a certain degree of provocation as you would not really expect a barmaid to throw a glass of liquid at you,” he told Jamieson. “However, both yourself and the victim of this incident were extremely lucky that this glass did not break when it struck her in the face.”
He fined Jamieson £400.