Court told man ‘can’t quite explain’ why he attacked neighbour

ARBROATH: Victim’s prosthetic leg was dislodged when he was pushed

An Angus man who assaulted a neighbour by knocking him to the ground and dislodging his prosthetic leg had sentence deferred for good behaviour when he appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court.

James Fenton, 50, of Fergus Square, Arbroath, admitted assaulting the man on August 26.

Depute fiscal Bill Kermode told the court Fenton had suffered a brain injury in 1981 as the result of a motorcycle accident.

On the night of the assault he was under the influence of alcohol, the court heard.

The victim was in bed at 8.30pm when he heard shouting and swearing, the court was told.

Mr Kermode said the victim was worried for another neighbour.

He put his prosthetic leg on and made his way to the other neighbour’s address, where he encountered the accused.

The other neighbour told the accused to calm down as there were children trying to sleep.

The victim “tried to reason with the accused”.

The court heard Fenton pushed the

“He very much regrets this. He apologises for it and can’t quite explain it. SOLICITOR BILLY RENNIE

victim on the head and body which caused him to fall on the ground.

Mr Kermode continued: “The accused placed his head on the witness and pushed him, causing him to fall backwards, dislodging his prosthetic leg in the process.

“His stump was exposed and made contact with the ground, causing great pain.

“He struggled to get up, he was shaken and in pain as a result of his fall.

“He had slight injuries with a small graze on the end of his stump of his right leg and on the end of his nose.

“He attended the minor injuries unit, had his wound cleaned up but was unable to wear his prosthetic leg for two to three weeks

“He was also given a course of antibiotics.”

Defence solicitor Billy Rennie told the court his client had been admitted to Carseview Hospital in Dundee immediately after the incident.

“He understands what he has done but can’t explain it,” the solicitor said.

“He has had terrible health problems from a brain injury from the 1990s.

“He does not see much of his complainers, they are his neighbours. “He very much regrets this.

“He apologises for it and can’t quite explain it.”

Sheriff Jillian Martin-brown noted the accused had spent four or five months in Carseview.

She deferred sentence for four months for an update on his mental health and for him to demonstrate he can be of good behaviour.

Fenton will return to the court on August 9.

jathomson@thecourier.co.uk