Fife man left ‘two inches from death or paralysis’ following Highland assault hits out at lenient sentence for attacker at Inverness Sheriff Court

Inverness: Stuart Jackson was out enjoying a night with friends when everything changed in an instant. He was pushed to the ground by a stranger, Michael Agnew, and hit his head hard on the pavement. Doctors later told him he was just two inches away from being paralyzed or even dead.

Stuart, 51, was left unconscious and bleeding badly. He needed seven staples in his head and now has a permanent scar. Agnew admitted to the assault but was given a sentence that Stuart feels is way too light. Instead of jail time, he got community service and a fine, which has left Stuart feeling frustrated and angry.

The attack has taken a toll on Stuart’s mental health. He’s been struggling with anxiety and has hardly left his house since. He’s a chef with 30 years of experience, but now he finds himself second-guessing everything he does.

Stuart doesn’t remember much from that night, just waking up in the hospital. His friends filled him in on the details, saying Agnew approached him looking for a fight. It’s hard for Stuart to wrap his head around it all, especially since he was just having a good time with his mates.

After spending five hours in the hospital, he thought he’d be okay, but the long-term effects have been tough. He’s faced relationship issues and even had a panic attack, something he’d never experienced before. It’s been a rough road for him, and he just wants justice for what happened.