Further jail time ‘inevitable’ for John O’Groats offender who battered man in Wick

A John O’Groats man on remand has yet to be sentenced for his latest offence but is expecting a jail term.

Eddie Macgregor originally pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault but admitted an amended indictment, when he appeared at Wick Sheriff Court on Monday.

The 29-year-old repeatedly kicked and punched a man to his severe injury outside the Pulteney Centre, run by Pulteneytown People’s Project, in Wick, on August 2, last year.

Sheriff Gordon Lamont called for a background report but was advised by the accused’s solicitor, Graham Mann: “He recognises that a period of custody is inevitable.”

The case was transferred to Inverness Sheriff Court which will hear details of the incident and mitigation, prior to sentence, on May 26.

Macgregor, whose address was given as Inverness Prison, remains on remand meantime. He has a record of offending.