A Craigellachie man was ordered to serve 200 hours of unpaid work over a six-month period after admitting assaulting a taxi driver.
Charles Milton, 23, appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court where he admitted assaulting taxi driver Kenneth Brown by repeatedly punching him to the head and body to his severe injury and permanent impairment.
Milton had been in custody since the incident at The Square in Aberlour on September 10 last year.
He also admitted assaulting onlooker Kevin Christie when he attempted to intervene in the assault on Mr Brown.
The court was told how Milton had stopped Mr Brown’s taxi at a bus stop but then became aggressive when Mr Brown refused to allow him, his girlfriend or their dog into his cab.
Fiscal Allison Wyllie said: “The taxi driver stopped because it looked like these people needed a lift – but because of the drink and the dog he refused to allow them into his taxi and it got completely out of hand from there.”
Mr Brown was subsequently treated at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for a double fracture to his jaw. Speaking on behalf of Milton, defence solicitor Steven McCarty said: “Milton is aware there are issues with his personal life that need to be addressed.”
Sheriff Susan Raeburn sentenced Milton to the community payback order telling him: “You have been remanded in custody since mid-September and it would appear that has had a significant effect on you.”