Brora man jailed after attacking friend with axe
A 31-year-old Brora man has been jailed for two years for assaulting his friend with an axe.
Jonathan Russell, his girlfriend and friend Lee Shearer had been drinking at the accused's home, Inverness Sheriff Court heard.
Russell became unhappy with Mr Shearer's behaviour towards his girlfriend and claimed he grabbed an axe to scare him off.
The court heard that Mr Shearer also "became armed" with an axe.
Russell admitted assaulting Mr Shearer to his injury and impairment. He also admitted previous convictions involving offensive weapons.
Jailing him for two years, Sheriff David Sutherland said: "Any assault with a weapon must be dealt with appropriately and almost inevitably with a custodial sentence.
"This is made worse by the sort of weapon you had."
Defence agent Iain Innes told the court the two men had been drunk.
He said: "My client took umbrage at Mr Shearer's behaviour towards his partner and a fight broke out when he refused to leave.
"Both became armed with axes and there is no doubt from forensic examination that the victim had both of the axes at some stage.
"My client took the axe to 'persuade' him to leave. I understand the wound is pretty superficial and although there is some impairment, it is not expected to be permanent."