A father and son have been jailed for a total of three years after brutally assaulting a complete stranger during birthday celebrations.
Eric and Mark Laing knocked Scott Sharp to the ground and repeatedly kicked him on the head as he lay helpless outside the Corinna bar on Perth’s Atholl Street.
The pair attacked their victim as they believed he had attended the 21st party uninvited but, unknown to them at the time, he was the new partner of Mark’s mother Morag.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how the ructions began earlier in the evening when the estranged family members had a disagreement, although this appeared to be resolved quite quickly.
Depute fiscal Charmaine Cole said: ”Mark’s parents separated several years earlier and the report says they do not normally socialise together, but had come together for the son’s 21st birthday party and all had consumed alcohol.
”At around 1.30am, Mrs Laing and her partner went outside and were waiting for a taxi. As the complainer was standing, he found himself punched on the face by Eric Laing, causing him to fall to the ground and he was repeatedly kicked on the head.
”Mark Laing was then seen to come over and he too began kicking the complainer repeatedly to the head.”
As more people gathered outside the Corinna, both accused left, which gave Mr Sharp the opportunity to get back on his feet.
Within minutes, however, the pair returned and began shouting ”incoherently” at their victim until overhearing a witness contact the emergency services, which caused them to flee the scene.
When officers from Tayside Police arrived and saw the extent of Mr Sharp’s injuries, they summoned an ambulance and he was conveyed to Perth Royal Infirmary for treatment.
He was found to have a deep laceration on his forehead, measuring about two inches. It needed several stitches and left him permanently scarred.
Defending 49-year-old Eric Laing, solicitor Linda Clark told the court her client and his son had organised the party together, which included devising a guest list.
”The persons who were expected to attend were formally invited to the party,” she added. ”That did not include his ex-wife and she and a number of others had attended the party uninvited and unexpectedly.
”He did not know who Mr Sharp was, just that he had turned up to the party with his ex-wife.
”His recollection is that he saw an argument develop between Mrs Laing and their son, leading him to take Mark outside for some fresh air.
”He then remembers some form of exchange outside and accepts that he acted in the manner described, which is totally unacceptable.”
Mark Laing (22) and Eric Laing, both of Dunsinane Drive, Perth, admitted that on October 31 last year at Atholl Street, they both assaulted Scott Sharp by repeatedly kicking him on his head and that Eric punched him on the head, all to his injury and permanent disfigurement.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis was critical of both father and son’s extensive records, as both have previous convictions for assault and breach of the peace.
He described Eric Laing as having a ”propensity for violence” and that he had ”no concern” for the injuries he could have inflicted on Mr Sharp.
He added: ”Mark Laing, you are following in your father’s footsteps after being convicted of three crimes of violence since 2007 and this is your fourth.
”Your father became involved in this incident and you decided to weigh in. Sharp, who you didn’t know, is on the ground and you decide he is fair game for a kicking and you get involved. As far as I’m concerned, custody is the only appropriate disposal.”
Eric Laing was jailed for two years, while Mark Laing was imprisoned for 12 months and both were ordered to attend alcohol counselling and anger management courses as part of a supervised release order.