A serial criminal with convictions for 189 offences nearly killed a taxi driver because his victim did not give him a cigarette.
Steven Greig, 45, battered Mark Ward, 54, on Coupar Angus Road in Dundee on April 6 2022.
Witnesses saw Greig hitting Mr Ward, pushing him on to the road and causing him to fall down a hill and hit his head on concrete.
Greig then started kicking his victim on the head, before fleeing the scene, near the roundabout at South Road.
Onlookers desperately helped Mr Ward as he lay motionless on the ground.
He was rushed to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and medics battled to save his life.
Prosecutor Victoria Dow told judge Lady Haldane they succeeded in saving him but he needs round-the-clock care and will probably need long-term support with all aspects of life in the future.
The court heard Greig told police when they arrested him: “I’m on five bails.
“That’s me f****d, all because he wouldn’t give me a fag.”
Saved by medics
The story emerged when Greig, of Charleston Drive, pled guilty to assaulting Mr Ward to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and to the danger of his life.
Ms Dow told the High Court in Edinburgh Greig has 94 previous convictions for 189 offences for crimes including dishonesty, knife possession, drugs and road traffic offences.
She told the court Mr Ward was a family man who helped his 82-year-old mum and 89-year-old dad with shopping, travel and taking them to medical appointments.
Greig attacked him at 1.30pm on April 6 2022.
Speaking about the aftermath, Ms Dow said: “Several members of the public observed Steven Greig making off from the area whilst shouting back towards the locus.
“They then found the complainer lying motionless in the middle of the road and offered medical assistance and the incident was reported to the emergency services.”
She said nurse David Lomas and doctor Jennifer Rollo – both off-duty – were present.
Ms Dow said Mr Ward was having “some form of seizure” and Ms Rollo helped him breathe as witnesses waited for paramedics to arrive.
He was bleeding heavily from his head.
He was critically ill and on April 7 2022, surgeons performed an operation to relieve pressure on the right side of his brain.
24-hour nursing care
The court heard Mr Ward still has not recovered from his ordeal.
Ms Dow said: “Mark Ward still continues to be an inpatient in the neurological ward at Ninewells Hospital.
“He is dependent on 24-hour nursing care.
“He makes spontaneous sounds with occasional words. However, there is no meaningful conversation.
“There is some spontaneous movement of arms and legs but this is not directed or purposeful.
“Mr Ward is PEG-fed and it is likely that he will require long term care and assistance with all aspects of care and daily living.”
You are without doubt a prolific offender with a frankly disgraceful record of previous convictions.”
— Lady Haldane.
As the fight to save his victim’s life was carried out, Greig went to a woman called Tracey Mudie’s house and told her about what had happened.
Ms Dow said: “He appeared to be angry.
“He was captured on Tracey Mudie’s Ring doorbell CCTV camera.
“In the footage, he is heard to say: ‘I’ve just battered a taxi driver.
“I asked him for a smoke and he came at me with an attitude’.”
‘Disgraceful record’
The court heard despite his record, this is the first time Greig has appeared in the High Court.
Lady Haldane ordered background reports to inform her sentencing options.
She told Greig, who observed proceedings via videolink from remand at Perth Prison: “You are without doubt a prolific offender with a frankly disgraceful record of previous convictions.”
She remanded him further and he will be sentenced next month.
