Pub confrontation left man unconscious
A Selkirk man was knocked unconscious after hitting his head against a table when he was assaulted in a pub.
First offender Ryan Christie, of Scott Crescent, Selkirk, appeared on indictment and admitted assaulting his victim to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement after the incident in the town's Angus O'Malleys bar on March 6.
Selkirk Sheriff Court heard on Tuesday how Christie threw the man to the ground after a confrontation between the victim and the accused's girlfriend.
At a previous hearing, depute procurator fiscal Mark Keane said Christie and his girlfriend were in the pub when he decided to go upstairs to listen to a live band. His partner remained downstairs with a dog on an extendable lead that was getting tangled up with customers.
Mr Keane said one man took exception to this, but was confronted by the accused's girlfriend who faced up to him. He put his hands on her shoulders as he was made to feel uncomfortable by her behaviour. The man got away from her and nothing more was said. But Mr Keane said that shortly afterwards a friend of the accused's girlfriend informed Christie about the incident.
He added: "He walked up to the victim and grabbed him by the shoulders and neck and pushed him to the ground. As he fell to the ground he struck his head on the table which rendered him unconscious. As the man fell over the accused fell on top of him.
"Blood came from his head and others pulled the accused away from him."
Mr Keane said first aid was administered at the scene and an ambulance and police were called. The victim, who was taken to Borders General Hospital, sustained a large scar on his head which required nine stitches and he was off work for a fortnight.
When Christie was cautioned and charged by police, he replied: "I regret hurting the guy."
On Monday, the court heard how Christie and his girlfriend had gone to a police station to report the incident.
"The police station was unmanned, but he waited there for someone to attend," explained defence solicitor Ross Dow, adding: "He has expressed genuine regret and remorse."
The lawyer went on: "The incident itself was relatively innocuous and had it not been for the consequences this may have been dealt with at a JP court.
"The CCTV footage shows him grabbing the victim and both then slipped and fell. There is no allegation of any kicking or punching."
Mr Dow said Christie, for whom he produced several testimonials, had acted completely out of character.
Sheriff Kevin Drummond told the mechanic, who was sentenced to 120 hours' community service: "You have pled guilty to an assault by taking hold of a man in a public house in circumstances where he fell over and struck his head, rendering him unconscious and sustaining serious injury.
"You are 28 years old and have never been in any trouble in your life, and I have read testimonials from a number of sources, describing you as a pleasant young man, respectful, polite and highly thought of. The proprietor of the licensed premises describes these events as out of character and you, yourself, reported the matter to police and were fully co-operative throughout.
"All of that enables me to deal with this other than by imprisonment," he concluded.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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