A MAN who threw the first punch in a bar fight was hit over the head with a bottle and left with a broken ankle.
Last Thursday, August 11, at Alloa Sheriff Court, James Adair admitted punching a man under provocation at Clackmannan’s Horseshoe Bar on December 12, 2015.
Fiscal depute Ann Orr told the court that the 55-year-old flagged down the police on Clackmannan’s Main Street at around 12.30am on the night of the offence.
Adair had blood on his face and told the officers that he had been attacked in the bar.
The cops requested an ambulance as the accused was bleeding heavily, however he got aggravated and refused medical treatment.
Adair, of Alloa’s Mill Road, left after providing his details.
The police made enquiries at the Horseshoe Bar, checking the CCTV.
The recording showed that Adair was drinking in the pub with a pal. The accused was seen to approach the complainer. They had a conversation, appeared to shake hands, and then returned to their drinks.
When engaging in a conversation later on, an argument escalated to which Adair punched the complainer.
Ms Orr stated that the accused was restrained by the complainer’s associates before leaving the bar.
After watching the CCTV, officers also detained the complainer.
In defence, Kelly Howe claimed that there was history between her client and the complainer.
Ms Howe stated that Adair felt that after the first conversation they had aired their differences, shook hands and resolved the problem.
Later on he was approached by the complainer who would not let the issue lie.
Adair claimed that the complainer made a racial remark, to which he reacted by punching him.
The accused was taken to the ground by the complainer’s associates, where he remained for some time. As he was being removed from the bar, the complainer smacked him on the head with a bottle.
After the scuffle, Adair was left with a broken ankle and bloody head from the bottle bash.
Sheriff David Mackie accepted that Adair punched his victim under provocation, fining him £150 for the assault.