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A New Zealand backpacker beat a British soldier, who had just returned from Afghanistan, so badly the man will have to quit the army.
Backpacker Levi Virbickas knocked down Paul Bacon, 24, checked his condition, then stamped on his face up to 10 times, the BBC reported.
The incident in Inverness last November was captured on CCTV.
The Royal Irish Regiment soldier, who was based at Fort George at the time, was on leave and going to visit his girlfriend when he was assaulted.
At the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday, the New Zealander admitted the attack.
He had been drinking and told police he could not remember anything about the attack.
Police said Virbickas, 20, punched the ranger in the face 15 to 20 times.
The ranger, who is set to be medically discharged from the Army, had planned to remain in the forces before pursuing a career in the police or as a paramedic, the court was told.
He told police: "Now I have no future to look forward to and will be dependent on the pension from the army."
Mr Bacon was punched in the face as he lay on the ground before the backpacker took a run and jumped full force on his head, the court was told.
Virbickas was then seen to check on the condition of the downed soldier before stamping hard on his face up to 10 times and kicking the unconscious man.
He admitted assaulting Mr Bacon to his severe injury, permanent impairment and to the danger of his life last November at Falcon Square.
Mr Bacon was taken to Raigmore Hospital, in Inverness, and kept in for almost seven weeks.
Virbickas said he had drunk cocktails and beer at a club and could remember leaving alone, but had no further recollection of events, the Glasgow Herald reported.
He told police he was not a violent person and suggested his drinks might have been spiked.
A blood sample was tested for a wide range of drugs but results were negative.
The judge, Lady Dorrian, deferred sentence on Virbickas for a background report and risk assessment and remanded him in custody.
- NZPA
