An act of “great cruelty” on a man who had bleach-laced hair gel put on his hair culminated in an assault on him which left him suffering permanent deafness, Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard.
Mark Gilchrist (28), of McGregor Avenue, Lochgelly, left Edward Murray with bruising and swelling to his face, a blood clot above his left eye and permanent deafness in his right ear after the attack, which was done as a “joke.”
Yesterday Gilchrist was sent to prison for 18 months after he had admitted assaulting Mr Murray, c/o Dunfermline Police Station, at an address in McGregor Avenue, Lochgelly, between October 25 and 26, 2008, by repeatedly kicking and punching him on the head and body and administering bleach-laced hair-gel to his head whereby it ran down his head to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment.
His co-accused Bryan Wilson (27), of Lumphinnans Road, Lochgelly, admitted assaulting Mr Murray at the address between the same dates by repeatedly punching him to the head to his injury.
The court heard Gilchrist finished work early and met Mr Murray in a shop before inviting him home.
“The pair knew each other and the accused (Gilchrist) asked Mr Murray if he wanted to stay at his house and when they arrived, the complainer had a shower,” depute fiscal Louise Ward said.
“The pair started to drink alcohol together before being joined by Wilson.”IntoxicatedThe court heard how Mr Murray became “intoxicated” through drinking and how Gilchrist suggested dying Mr Murray’s hair.
“Gilchrist mixed bleach with hair-gel and this was applied to Mr Murray’s hair,” Miss Ward added.
“Both accused then went out for more alcohol but when they returned Mr Murray complained about a burning sensation down the right side of his face, caused by the bleach.”
The court heard an argument then took place between Mr Murray and Wilson which resulted in the complainer being punched three times on the head.
Mr Murray was taken to Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, where it was found he had bruising and swelling to his face and his right eye, a blood clot above his left eye and permanent deafness in his right ear.
Stephen Morrison, solicitor for Gilchrist, said his client had suggested putting bleach into hair gel but could not believe he had done this to a friend.
“My client is very sorry for this incident,” he said.
“It was meant as a joke. He knew Mr Murray was homeless and an alcoholic, so he invited him to his home.
“When my client and Wilson came back with more alcohol, Mr Murray took umbrage with what had happened and told my client he had a burning sensation down the right side of his face. Mr Murray remonstrated about this but was further assaulted.
“My client wanted to apologise to Mr Murray for what happened. He realised that Mr Murray was down on his luck and invited him home to have a shower and then they started drinking.Utter folly”This was utter folly that my client embarked upon. It’s clear that Mr Murray suffered deafness to his right ear because of this incident.”
Solicitor Zander Flett, appearing for Wilson, said his client was “uncomfortable” with Gilchrist putting the bleach-laced hair gel on to Mr Murray’s head.
“An argument then broke out between my client and Mr Murray over previous history when they were both neighbours of each other,” he said.
“My client became heated and accepts he punched Mr Murray three times on the head. But he very much regrets what took place.”Great crueltySentencing Gilchrist, Sheriff Ian Dunbar told him, “This was an act of great cruelty.
“The narrative that was given by the Crown showed that the injuries suffered by Mr Murray were attributable to this assault.”
Gilchrist was sentenced to 18 months in prison, backdated to April 29.
He was also fined £100 for failing to appear at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on January 7 having been granted bail on October 19.
Wilson was sentenced to a restriction of liberty order for six months, whereby he has to remain at his home address from 8pm to 7am.