Now Highland Council has launched a disciplinary investigation into his actions and conviction and High will also be reported to the General Teaching Council.

High (27) reported the matter to his employers at Highland Council at the time of the incident.

He was not suspended from his job at Millburn Academy.

The court hearing on Thursday – the day Highland schools broke up for the summer holidays – was told that the assault took place in the Smith and Jones pub on High Street.

High (27) had punched Callum Burns who, it was claimed, had refused to apologise to the teacher's sister and another woman over comments of a sexual nature made about them.

Sheriff Ian Abercrombie decided to admonish High after taking the unusual step of deferring sentence until an afternoon session of the court after being told the teacher had offered to make a substantial donation to a local charity. Evidence of a payment of £750 to the Highland Hospice was submitted.

Earlier, the sheriff was told High had been at a party in a house last summer when assault victim Mr Burns made inappropriate sexual comments to a girl.

Defence solicitor Craig Wood said that, at the party, Mr Burns was asked to stop making the comments to the girl, but he then made "entirely inappropriate comments" about High's sister.

Mr Burns was told to leave the party, which he did.

But several weeks later the pair encountered each other in the Smith and Jones pub in Inverness city centre.

"The accused approached him to clear the air," said Mr Wood, "and he said he should apologise for his conduct at the party.

"He refused and made another entirely inappropriate comment about the accused's sister and the accused responded by punching him in the face."

Mr Burns sustained an injured cheekbone.

High, of Culduthel Mains Circle, Inverness, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Burns in the Smith and Jones pub on September 20 last year by punching him on the head to his injury.

When the case reconvened in the afternoon, Sheriff Abercrombie told High: "I am aware the assault is completely out of character and that you have made a substantial donation this morning to the Highland Hospice."

In view of the circumstances of the case, the sheriff said he was prepared to admonish High.

A spokesman for Highland Council said: "The authority was made aware of this incident at the time by the teacher involved. It took place outwith the school and he wasn't suspended.

"Now he has admitted the assault and been convicted, the matter will be reported by the court to the General Teaching Council who will ask the council what action we are taking.

"Mr High will now be the subject of a disciplinary hearing process by the council."

A spokesman for the General Teaching Council said: "The GTC will await a report from the police and local authority before deciding whether to take action on this matter."

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