Man sentenced for breaking friend’s leg with club COURT

A Wester Ross man who broke a friend's leg with a golf club after he was refused entry toa neighbour's party escaped a jail sentence yesterday.

James Fraser, 29, now of 31aMain Street, New Mills, Ayrshire, smashed Andrew Powrie's leg just above the knee, causing an open wound and the fracture.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard yesterday that Fraser had wanted to join others in a house in MacIntyre Road, Gairloch, on September 13 last year but had not been allowed in.

Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood was told that Fraser was “a vulnerable young man with mental health difficulties and had not had a drink since".

Fraser, who admitted a breach of the peace and assault to severe injury, was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work, and be under social work supervision for two years. He was also instructed to pay £900 compensation to his victim.

At an earlier hearing, fiscal depute Michelle Molley told the court: “He kicked off when he wasn't allowed in to the party. He shouted and swore at the people inside.

“Then he brandished a hammer above his head and threatened violence before engaging in a fight with one man.

“He was repeatedly shouting: ‘Come on then, fight me, I could take you all on.' Panic then ensued as several occupants of the house saw that he had a hammer.

“Andrew Powrie, a friend of Fraser's, and a female came out to try to calm him down. She managed to remove the hammer and Mr Powrie persuaded Fraser to go home.

“He was still being aggressive and when he got home, he grabbed a golf club without warning and struck Mr Powrie on the leg.

“Mr Powrie managed to exit the property, and hobbled back to the house where the others were. He went in distressed and ashen faced and said: ‘He's hit me on the leg. My leg, my leg!' Then an ambulance was called,” Ms Molley said.

“A vulnerable man with mental health issues, he had not had a drink since”