Dingwall street attacker gets 22 months
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A RESIDENT in Dingwall looked outside her window and saw a neighbour holding a knife threatening to stab a man.
The woman saw Ryan Simpson repeatedly punching Jack Maclean in Peffery Road, Inverness Sheriff Court heard.
Simpson (21) was jailed for 22 months for assault and robbery by Sheriff Margaret Neilson.
At an earlier hearing depute fiscal Roderick Urquhart explained how Mr Maclean, who is a fisherman and lives on the west coast, had been at the Mallard Bar in Dingwall on May 2 and, having missed his last bus, decided to get a taxi.
The fiscal said Mr Maclean did not know Simpson, who offered to show him where he could get a taxi. But in Peffery Road, Simpson punched him and pulled out a knife.
Mr Urquhart said that at about 8.15pm, a resident in the street heard screaming and looked out her window and saw him punching Mr Maclean shouting: "If I don’t get my money I’ll stab you,"
The fiscal added: "She then saw him produce a knife. Mr Maclean also became aware of the knife and Simpson shouted: ‘I’m going to stick this in you right now’."
A struggle followed and Mr Maclean managed to disarm Simpson. However the accused managed to get hold of a wallet which contained £100 and a brand new mobile phone.
The phone fell to the ground and was later recovered. Simpson ran off but was later traced by police. Simpson, a prisoner at Addiewell Prison, admitted the offences.
Solicitor David Paterson said Simpson accepted he was facing a prison sentence.
"When sober he does have the potential to be a functioning member of society. The social worker (who compiled the report) hits the nail on the head saying when sober he is a likeable young man who accepts drugs are the root cause and he is bewildered by his behaviour."
Simpson was on four bail orders at the time.
"He was given an opportunity by the court and it’s an opportunity he has absolutely ruined," said Mr Paterson.
Sheriff Neilson jailed him for 22 months backdated to May 3.
