A teenager who carried out an unprovoked bottle assault in an Angus village street has been warned he could have faced jail for the offence.
Sean Thain mounted the attack on his innocent victim during Edzell’s bonfire night celebration last November after a row involving his brother.
Forfar Sheriff Court heard the 19-year-old had consumed as much as 20 units of alcohol before hitting his victim in the street, leaving him with cuts to his face and ear.
The man did not require hospital treatment but a sheriff told Thain the offence was unacceptable in modern society.
Trainee welder Thain, of Plantingside Cottage, Edzell appeared for sentence before Sheriff Kevin Veal at Forfar on Thursday, having previously admitted assaulting the man on November 3 on Edzell High Street by striking him on the head with a bottle to his injury.
Depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy said the accused and friends had been in a hotel in the village and around 10pm the victim and others were outside the premises.
“An unidentified male approached the complainer, asking him to buy alcohol but he refused since he thought they were under age and a threat was then made.
“The accused, without much ado, approached the complainer and struck him, causing lacerations to the left side of his head and left ear and swelling.
“He was treated by ambulance staff but did not have to attend hospital or require follow-up treatment,” added the fiscal.
“This was basically unprovoked the complainer wasn’t in any sort of dispute with the accused.”
Defence agent Bob Bruce said his client’s version of events varied from the Crown narrative, adding that Thain had consumed a large amount of alcohol prior to the offence.
“He had purchased a crate of beer for himself, his brother and a friend,” said Mr Bruce. “It was bonfire night, they went outside to congregate and my client saw his brother and his friend trying to sell beer to the victim and his friend.
“An argument occurred and Mr Thain says he tried to diffuse the situation but there was a motion by the victim to strike him and he hit him with the bottle.
“Clearly, he should not have done that,” added the lawyer. “I would hope that this is absolutely a one-off.”
Sheriff Veal imposed a 15-month Community Payback order, including a £250 compensation order and 100 hours of unpaid work.
Thain must also undertake supervision, victim awareness, anger management and alcohol counselling.
“Any assault with a bottle is bound to be regarded as a serious matter and if the accused had any measure of previous convictions, his liberty would have been absolutely on the line,” said Sheriff Veal. “This sort of behaviour cannot be tolerated in a civilised society.”