Jail for Dundee man who punched woman so hard the noise ‘echoed down the street’

A Dundee man punched a woman in the face so hard that witnesses heard it ”echoing down the street”.

Neil William Barclay (34), c/o Hutchison, Fintry Drive, admitted that on April 9 last year, in Leith Walk, he assaulted Ashley Allan, c/o Tayside Police, by punching her on the head, causing her to fall to the ground and strike her head on the pavement, rendering her unconscious, to her severe injury and impairment.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard Ms Allan was at a party in Leith Walk. Another man was asked to leave and was seen outside the house moments later, his face covered in blood.

The court was told that Ms Allan had gone outside with her friends to investigate and the accused came running at her and punched her on the face.

She fell to the ground, hit her head on the pavement and was knocked unconscious. She was taken to hospital for observation.

Barclay was traced two days later in Greenlee Drive. Sheriff Duff said a custodial sentence was the only option due to Barclay’s previous record and the nature of the offence.

He jailed Barclay for 15 months.