A MAN suffered a 10cm cut to the right hand side of his neck following a confrontation in a stairwell just off a Borders High Street on a Wednesday mid-morning.

Thirty-three-year-old Stephen Black, who gave an address in Innerleithen, pleaded guilty to assaulting the man to his severe injury on Peebles High Street on the morning of December 11, 2019.

Depute fiscal Joanna Waller said the accused and complainer had exchanged text messages on the morning of the attack and there was a brief encounter at around 10.30am in a stairwell in Peebles High Street.

She said how the victim suddenly felt an impact on the right hand side of his neck and discovered he was bleeding. He immediately turned round and saw Black and punched him in the face.

The fiscal said a struggle ensued and further punches were thrown.

A witness confirmed that Black was responsible for the injury to the man which was a 10cm laceration to the right hand side of his neck.

It was not stated in court how the injury was inflicted.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick accepted this was a case which could easily be dealt with buy a custodial sentence.

But he said there were several factors which meant an alternative could be applied.

He explained the incident happened two years ago and Black had not been in trouble since.

He added it was his client's first conviction for violence and that he was in full time employment.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said: "This is a serious offence which would normally attract a prison sentence."

But he added that passage of time since the offence had worked in Black's favour and he was prepared to impose the alternative as part of a Community Pay Back Order.

He imposed supervision for one year and also a Restriction of Liberty order keeping him within his home between the hours of 7.30pm and 6.30am for the next 10 months.