A DUNBAR joiner assaulted a long-term business associate after he had lost thousands of pounds in a cryptocurrency investment.

Alex Jaffray handed over an investment of £5,000 to Billy Kay in a bid to make a profit in the currency scheme.

Following the transaction in 2021, Mr Kay subsequently failed to hand over any profits and also began avoiding any contact with 33-year-old Jaffray, a court heard.

The joiner became increasingly irate at the loss of his cash and, after initially contacting the man in “a civil way”, he was promised that the cash was forthcoming. But, following more delays, dad-of-one Jaffray attended at Mr Kay’s home on Dunbar’s Letham Road to confront him.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that Jaffray had been “left short [of money] in the run-up to Christmas” and the meeting at Mr Kay’s home in January 2022 had turned violent.

Jaffray, who runs a local joinery business with two employees, was said to have been “frustrated” at not receiving his cash back and, during the confrontation, he grabbed Mr Kay by the throat.

The business owner, of Muirfield Road, Dunbar, then punched Mr Kay to the head, causing him to fall to the ground, where he then kicked his victim on the body.

'Sense of embarrassment'

Solicitor Jonathan Campbell, representing Jaffray, said that his client “takes full responsibility” for his actions and he now “regrets” not getting the police involved sooner.

Mr Campbell said that Jaffray, who was in court accompanied by his father, had shown “genuine remorse” and now suffered from a “sense of embarrassment in being charged with these offences”.

The court heard that Mr Kay had since passed away in unrelated circumstances.

Mr Campbell said that the pair had known each other for about 12 years and had met through work.

Sheriff John Mundy said: “I accept when you attended on that day there was a build-up of frustration but, of course, that is no excuse.”

Jaffray was sentenced to carry out 225 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Jaffray pleaded guilty to assaulting Billy Kay, now deceased, at an address at Letham Road, Dunbar, on January 19, 2022.