Victim left with scar after being attacked at Elgin Sheriff Court by Lossiemouth man

A man who was attacked in court was repeatedly punched and kicked, resulting in a head injury that left him with a scar.

The details of the assault, which happened in Elgin Sheriff Court on March 24 last year, were given to Inverness Sheriff Court by fiscal depute Susan Love when 26-year-old Lossiemouth man, Tony Arbuthnot, described as a prisoner at HMP Perth, appeared to admit the assault to injury and permanent disfigurement.

Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald was told that Arbuthnot made a gesture towards the man outside the court building and then followed him inside before unleashing a flurry of blows.

Susan Love said: "He put his hands up to his face to try and protect himself and bent over but the accused continued to punch him and then kicked him on the head.

“Both are known to each other. He sustained a head injury that required five stitches, and he is left with a scar. Arbuthnot was not arrested at the time but police got information that he was at Aberdeen Airport about to board a flight to Spai,n and he was arrested."

Arbuthnot had his sentence deferred for a background report until May 20 and was again remanded in custody.

His defence solicitor, Stephen Carty, reserved his comments until then.