An Angus man has been warned he faces a lengthy spell behind bars after an assault with a heavy ornament that fractured his victim’s skull and wrist.
George King also caused a blood clot behind Paul McCrorie’s eye after a drinking session between the pair and King’s brother turned sour.
King (30), described as a prisoner at Perth, appeared on indictment at Forfar, when he admitted assaulting McCrorie at a house in Montrose Street, Brechin, between January 30 and 31 by repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body, and striking him with an ornament to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
Depute fiscal Hazel Anderson told the court that King and his victim had gone to King’s home and were drinking into the early hours.
There was then a play fight between McCrorie and the accused’s younger brother Jason, who was originally a co-accused on the indictment but had a not-guilty plea accepted by the Crown on Monday.
George King intervened in the fight, the court heard, and it was then that he hit the complainer with the heavy ornament.
One blow fractured the victim’s skull and when he then put his hand up to protect himself McCrorie (35) received another hit which broke his middle finger and left wrist.
The victim was able to make his way from the house to contact police and, when examined in hospital, was found to have multiple puncture wounds to his scalp and what was described as an extensive fracture to his skull caused by a sizeable impact.
He also suffered severe blunt force trauma to his left eye, which left a blood clot that required surgery.
Police investigating the attack found the accused sleeping at home but his face, hands and clothing were extensively covered in the complainer’s blood, which was also found on the ornament.
King told police he had grabbed the complainer and put him out of his home because he had been fighting with his brother but offered no other explanation for the injuries sustained by McCrorie.
Sheriff Kevin Veal remanded King until June 16 for the preparation of reports but warned the accused to expect a lengthy custodial sentence in view of the nature of the injuries sustained by his victim.