A man has been sent to detention for four years after he brutally battered a female ambulance technician with a piece of wood and then blamed it on Buckfast.
Sheriff Alastair Brown told Lewis Anderson that in his experience Buckfast “featured more often than any other drink or drug in violent crime”.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard the 38-year-old victim, Kathryn Wheater, was walking home from a friend’s house in the early hours of September 20 when she came upon Anderson.
Anderson later told police that the two bottles of Buckfast which his lawyer said had been taken “as a bit of a challenge” had made him “pumped and angry” and that he “just had to beat someone”.
The 18-year-old attacker was standing holding a large piece of wood, which looked like it had been broken from a fence.
Without warning or provocation, Anderson walked up to his victim and smashed her across the face with the wood.
He then repeatedly punched her on the face.
Miss Wheater tried to fight back and Anderson only fled after she bit him on the leg.
He later bragged about the attack to a friend, telling him she was “strong”.
Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson told the court Miss Wheater sustained a broken nose and significant bruising in the attack.
First offender Anderson, a prisoner at HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont, pleaded guilty to assault to severe injury carried out on Hill Crescent, Cupar, on September 20.
Douglas Williams, defending, said: “On the night in question he had consumed drugs and two bottles of Buckfast, which was taken as a bit of a challenge.
“Having consumed the drink and drugs his behaviour became physically and emotionally uncontrollable.
“His judgment was blown away and he was looking for someone to vent his spleen on.”
Sheriff Alistair Brown sentenced him to detention for four years.