Moray Courts: Offshore worker bit brother
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A man who bit, punched and spat on his brother has been ordered to do unpaid work for the community.
Elgin Sheriff Court was told yesterday that offshore worker Jonathan Mutch has an ongoing problem with alcohol.
The 33-year-old admitted carrying out the assault at his mother's home in Elgin on Monday, August 2, 2021.
The court heard that Mutch had turned up drunk at the property at about 10.30pm, half an hour after his mother and brother had already retired to bed.
He was let inside the house, but continued to make a noise downstairs in the living room.
The assault took place after his brother challenged him about his behaviour.
Mutch was subsequently arrested and appeared in court, where he was granted bail on the condition that he didn't go round to his mother's home.
However, that's what he did five months later, on January 20 last year, while under the influence of alcohol.
Defence solicitor Stephen Carty said that Mutch's brother bore no lasting ill for the attack.
However, the lawyer added, the family had been concerned about his behaviour for a long time and wanted him to get help.
While weighing up the facts, Sheriff Gordon Lamont stated that a report prepared for the court had failed to state Mutch was an alcoholic.
Mr Carty said he was surprised by the omission because, with regards to his client's behaviour, "alcohol is always the fuel to the fire".
Mutch, whose address was given in court papers as Laich Terrace, Elgin, was placed under the court's supervision for the next two years.
During this time, he was told, he must comply completely with Arrows and with Moray Drug and Alcohol, both local services which aim to help people with addiction issues.
He was also ordered to pay his brother £400 compensation and to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work for the community.
