Fortrose man jailed after assault victim suffers broken jaw and nose in attack outside Iceland in Inverness
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A shopper was knocked unconscious and seriously injured following a violent altercation in an Inverness retail car park.
The man had been outside Iceland when he encountered Zen Etchells (28) on August 6 last year and there was an argument.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that the man moved towards Etchells first, who backed off twice before returning to unleash a couple of punches to the victim’s head.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir told Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald: “He hit his head on the ground and was knocked unconscious. Etchells then lifted him up but did not land any more punches.”
An ambulance was called and it was later discovered that the casualty had sustained a broken jaw and nose plus a cut to the back of his head.
It was the latest in a series of offences committed by Etchells.
The first was on March 31 last year when police went to his home in Station Road, Fortrose on another matter.
Mr Weir went on: “Police took hold of him and he made repeated attempts to free himself, refused to get in the police car and was shouting and swearing.
“He continued to be abusive in the vehicle and threatened an officer, saying: ‘I will have you.’
“On July 10, he was in the Co-op supermarket in Fortrose and picked up two bottles of spiced rum. He dropped a black-handled knife on the floor before walking out without paying.”
Mr Weir added that officers went to his home to recover the alcohol. He was intoxicated and began shouting and swearing at officers, threatening to kill them and their families.”
Etchells admitted assault to severe injury, two charges of threatening behaviour, theft by shoplifting, breach of bail and resisting arrest.
He was jailed for a total of 96 weeks.
Defence solicitor Duncan Henderson said: “He was doing well on a drug treatment order and was free of drugs and alcohol. But then Covid struck and he got into a relationship where drugs and alcohol were again consumed.
“But he has shown he can overcome his addictions.”
