Unpaid work for man who left friend covered in blood

A LERWICK man who attacked a friend because he said he was “being a bit overly” with him has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Rory Tulloch left his victim covered in blood after repeatedly punching him on the head in Thorfinn Street on 22 November last year.

Police found the victim hours later, with blood still “spurting” from his mouth and suffering from a “severe arterial bleed” which caused “significant” blood loss.

The two men were known to each other, and after bumping into each other outside a pub in the early hours of the morning the victim invited Tulloch back to his house for drinks and to listen to music.

The victim said he turned around to put music on his iPad and turned back as Tulloch began repeatedly punching him in the face.

He awoke on his kitchen floor after the attack covered in blood and had to stagger to his feet.

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Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the man had “profuse bleeding from his mouth” and was struggling to stem the flow.

There were a number of calls between Tulloch, 36, and the accused in the aftermath, before Tulloch called the police and told them what he had done.

Tulloch, of Annsbrae Place, said he had “repeatedly told” the man not to touch him, but that he had not stopped, and that he was “being a bit overly” with him.

He said he felt he was not being allowed to leave, so he punched him three or four times to get away.

Police attended at the victim’s house and found his mouth was still bleeding heavily, with his mouth still said to be “spurting” blood.

As a result, police then attended Tulloch’s house to arrest him – and he was seen to have an injury to his left hand consistent with punching.

The victim required IV fluid because of the significant blood loss he had suffered and also had injuries to his left eye and a one centimetre laceration to his top lip.

He was also suffering pain to his torso, which doctors believed were rib fractures.

The victim said Tulloch had “misconstrued” what was happening at the house, adding he did not know what provoked the attack.

He said he did not think anything had happened that would have made Tulloch believe he wanted anything sexual to happen between them.

Defence agent Gregor Kelly admitted Tulloch’s response had been “wholly excessive and entirely disproportionate”.

Sheriff Neil Wilson ordered Tulloch to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months.