A Carnoustie man narrowly avoided prison after admitting his involvement in a festive mass brawl outside a busy Broughty Ferry pub.
Charles Bell, Nathaniel Clark, Dillon McIntosh, and Steven Chalmers were embroiled in a melee outside the Eagle Coaching Inn and Fort Bar on King Street and Fort Street on December 18 last year.
The group had all consumed alcohol the last weekend before Christmas, in one of the town’s busiest night spots, when they assaulted three others in a fight which “started quickly and ended quickly”.
They appeared for sentence at Dundee Sheriff Court on Monday, almost exactly a year later.
Charles Bell
Bell, 22, of Dundee Street, Carnousite, assaulted three men — Keaton Strachan, Sva Ciakas and Brian Ogilvie.
He was told by Sheriff Gregor Murray his actions had warranted a stretch in prison but he had been convinced by the social work reports an alternative was available.
Solicitor Nick Whelan, in mitigation for Bell, said: “I note he appears before the court as a first offender.
“He has a high level of insight into how his behaviour affected the complainers.
“He was part of something a large group had become involved in.”
Bell was given a year to complete 180 hours of unpaid work.
Nathaniel Clark
Nathaniel Clark, 26, of Hillhead Road, Monikie, only became involved in the assault of Sva Ciakas — alongside Bell — after he spotted the complainer with a glass, his defence lawyer Alex Short claimed in mitigation.
She said: “As the fight broke out he was standing at the side having a cigarette.
“He saw a man with a glass in his waistband.
“The man he assaulted had been on the ground and looked like he was about to rejoin the fight.
“He wanted to prevent this.”
Offshore worker Clark then punched him on the body.
He admitted assault and was fined £420.
Dillon McIntosh
Dillon McIntosh, 19, of Kirkton Terrace, Carnoustie, admitted punching Paul Leonard, causing him to fall to the ground to his severe injury.
A trainee barber, McIntosh’s defence solicitor Jane Caird said on his behalf: “He was 18 at the time of the offence.
“He had a fair amount to drink.
“He accepts his actions as libelled and has no previous convictions.”
He was fined £210.
Steven Chalmers
Steven Chalmers, 24, of Taymouth Street, Carnoustie, acting with Bell, assaulted Keaton Strachan by punching and kicking him on the body and throwing him to the ground to his injury.
Defence solicitor Kevin Hampton explained in mitigation: “He was only involved for between 10-to-20 seconds.
“He was outside, minding his own business, when he then became involved.”
He was fined £420.
Sheriff Murray, sentencing all four, said: “Before me is an incident which started quickly and was over quickly.
“Mr Bell, you were involved in three of the charges – it passes the threshold for custody but there is an alternative to custody available.”
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