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Man who assaulted disabled victim in Alness with a metal pole avoids jail sentence as Highland court hears of 'mental collapse' at time of offences


By Ali Morrison

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A 27-year-old man who attacked a disabled man with a metal pole which broke during the assault in Alness was spared a jail sentence this week.

Ryan McLennan, of Holm Burn Place, Inverness, appeared for sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court after a background report had been prepared on him.

Defence solicitor advocate Shahid Latif had previously told Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald: “He had experienced a mental collapse during those days.”

He added at the sentencing hearing, referring to MacLennan's intoxicants' abuses: "The sins of his father have been visited upon him as well."

Having read the confidential background report, Sheriff Macdonald was narrowly persuaded not to send MacLennan to jail. Instead she ordered him to remain under social work supervision for two years.

The community payback order also instructed MacLennan to undergo alcohol treatment.

The court had previously heard that McLennan told two women he met while walking away from the assault that he had done it because his disabled victim “had been cheeky to someone”.

The 27-year-old admitted, on indictment, the assault, a charge of threatening behaviour and a breach of a bail condition not to enter Westford.

Fiscal depute Alex Swain told Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald that James Seel had been struck repeatedly on the head with the metal pole which broke. He suffered several cuts and a black eye.

The following day, McLennan returned to Westford under the influence of drugs. The court heard he produced a large kitchen knife after knocking on a local resident's door.

The second incident in the Easter Ross town’s Westford housing estate on February 20 also involved throwing a bottle of screen wash at a vehicle being washed by its owner.

Deferring an earlier hearing, Sheriff Macdonald told McLennan: “These are appalling offences, but I would urge you to continue with the work you have been doing in relation to your mental health.”


View our fact sheet on court reporting here




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