Forres man broke stranger's rib in attack

A Forres man is facing jail for viciously attacking a stranger with a piece of fencing and breaking his rib.

John Fraser from Forres rained blows to the head and body as his victim lay defenceless in Pilmuir Road on November 16.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard earlier today that the 28-year-old had assaulted three different men.

The series of offences began after Fraser's first victim had met his niece off a bus in order to walk her home after she returned from work.

Fiscal depute Alex Swain told the court that Fraser had approached the pair.

Ms Swain said: "He spoke to the woman, calling her 'baby' which made her feel uncomfortable.

"Then he flipped out and the man was pushed into a fence, which broke.

"Fraser repeatedly punched and kicked the man before he picked up a piece of broken wood and repeatedly struck the man with it on the head and body."

The woman screamed at Fraser to stop and phoned her husband for help.

However when the husband arrived with another relative, Fraser turned on both of them as well.

He began to flail his arms about and struck the husband on the head.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard the assault stopped briefly as the group tried to get the injured man home. They were then met on Drumine Road by the woman's father.

But Fraser had followed and lashed out the father, striking him on the head too.

Ms Swain said that when the group finally managed to get home, police quickly attended to discover the first victim in pain and bleeding from head wounds.

He was taken to Dr Gray's Hospital by ambulance and treated for a broken rib.

A piece of wood was also removed from his scalp and he received several stitches.

Fraser appeared by video link from custody and pleaded guilty to assaulting the man to his severe injury, as well as to separate charges of threatening and aggressive behaviour.

Defence solicitor Stephen Carty asked that a background report be prepared on his client before sentencing.

Mr Carty said: "He accepts that this will only be dealt with by a custodial sentence. But his partner died in early 2020 and he has struggled with this. A report may be helpful."

Fraser, who will also be risk assessed, is due to appear again at the same court on April 9.