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Ross-shire man convicted of assault following trial at Inverness Sheriff Court


By Ali Morrison

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The Inverness Justice Centre.
The Inverness Justice Centre.

A HANDYMAN was attacked because he was taking too long to finish a house that he was refurbishing, a court trial heard this week.

Tony Culver, a 50 year old odd-job man in Ross-shire, was kicked on the head and throttled after a confrontation with 32 year old Brian Stirling, who occasionally helped him on the house project.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told on Monday that Stirling, of Jindalee Cottages, Dingwall was a friend of the two owners of the property in Mackay Terrace, Avoch.

He denied assaulting Mr Culver on January 29, 2020 to his injury.

During the trial, Sheriff Sara Matheson was shown photographs of reddening to the victim’s neck and bruising to his back.

She convicted Stirling and deferred sentence until August 31 for a background report and restriction of liberty assessment.

Stirling had similar convictions, but they were over nine years old. He did not give evidence.

Sheriff Matheson told him: “I believed Mr Culver’s evidence, backed up by the photographs.”

Mr Culver told the sheriff court that he had been working on the house since November of last year. But he added that the job was taking longer than expected.

He said Stirling had come to the property and accused him of conning his friends, demanding all their money back.

“They told me they were running out of money and I said I would do what I could to help them. Brian would come occasionally to help speed things up.

“I saw him coming to the door. I was working with filler on the floor and I said to him that he didn’t look happy. He said he was not, and then I felt a blow to my head. I think it was a boot.

“Then he had his arms around my throat, strangling me. I was struggling to breathe and I thought I was going to die. There were punches as well.

“I don’t know how I got out. I assumed he let me go.

"He said he thought I was taking advantage of the owners and trying to rip them off,” Mr Culver said.

He denied that accusation to defence solicitor Marc Dickson, explaining the job was taking longer than anticipated.

He also denied attacking Stirling first and swinging a punch at him which missed.

Mr Culver replied: “I have never had a fight in my life.”

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