The son of Stagecoach tycoon Sir Brian Souter has been spared jail for a second assault conviction, after writing a “private and confidential” letter to the presiding sheriff.
Scott Souter (21), who works as a social media administrator for his father’s firm in Perth, returned to court for sentencing on Tuesday, after admitting attacking two men outside a Perth pub last summer.
He had previously been convicted for assaulting a man who taunted him about his family.
He also got a driving ban for driving, uninsured, the wrong way down a Perth street as a teenager.
Despite his string of crimes, Souter was handed a £600 fine, payable at £150 per month.
Sheriff Robert McCreadie, who had ordered him to write the letter, said it was time to “draw a line under the case.”
Sheriff McCreadie had asked for the letter to be written when Souter last appeared in court, stating he should clearly mark it “private and confidential” and for his personal attention.
As such, its contents were not made public, unlike other letters written in mitigation by accused persons.
Court staff were expressly told not to hand the letter to court reporters with other public documents about the case.
The court had previously heard how Souter, of Glasgow Road, had an alcohol dependency and was “out of it” when he attacked two men in Roca Blue on Speygate on June 30.
He began punching the first man for “no apparent reason” and then turned on the second as he intervened, hitting him on the head and body.
One of his victims was left with a “profusely” bleeding nose.
Souter claimed he had been suffering a hypoglycaemic episode at the time and was a “weekend binge drinker”.
After considering the letter’s contents on Tuesday, Sheriff McCreadie said: “It’s a very helpful and articulate letter, which is what I expected, and it gives a clear understanding of where such alcohol consumption leads.
“I thank Mr Souter for doing that.”
He added: “I wanted to make him reflect on his own behaviour … If this court has helped him, I’m pleased.”
Sheila McCall QC was in court as Souter’s defence agent and pointed out her client had been of good behaviour since his last appearance.
She said he has sought alcohol counselling, remains in full-time employment and “has turned things around.”
He has also paid £700 in compensation to his victims.
Souter admitted that on June 30, at Roca Blu, Speygate, Perth, he assaulted a man by punching him on the head and body, to his injury.
He also admitted that, on the same date and at the same address, he assaulted another man by punching him on the face, to his injury. A not guilty plea to assaulting a woman on the same date and location was accepted by the Crown.
Sheriff McCreadie said: “Taking into account all facts, including your good behaviour and your reflections on alcohol, I will deal with the matter by drawing a line under the case.”
Other disposals available were a community payback order or prison term.