A callous career criminal has been jailed for leaving a “hard-working” family man from Dundee severely disabled because he would not give him a cigarette.
Steven Greig battered taxi driver Mark Ward in an unprovoked attack on Coupar Angus Road in April last year.
Witnesses saw Greig hit and push Mr Ward, causing him to fall and hit his head on concrete.
He then started kicking the defenceless 54-year-old, before fleeing.
Mr Ward was saved by medics, both off-duty at the scene and in Ninewells Hospital.
However, he needs round-the-clock care and is likely to need long term support with all aspects of life in the future.
Remorseless Greig had fled to a friend’s house and told her: “I’ve just battered a taxi driver.
“I asked him for a smoke and he came at me with an attitude.”
When police caught him, he said: “I’m on five bails.
“That’s me f****d, all because he wouldn’t give me a fag.”
‘Catastrophic consequences’
On Monday at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lady Haldane had to check Greig was paying attention before jailing him for five years and four months.
Greig, who was observing proceedings from jail via video link, had his head in his hands and appeared not to be listening to what Lady Haldane was saying.
The judge had earlier heard how Greig told a court-appointed social worker he was not responsible for the brutal attack.
Passing sentence, she said: “Your actions have had quite catastrophic consequences for the complainer.
“He has never recovered from the assault and has been left severely disabled.
“He will require care for the rest of his life.
“I have had regard to the contents of victim impact statements which tell of how Mr Ward was a hard-working and much loved member of his family.
“I recognised there is no sentence that I can impose which will undo the harm caused to the complainer and to those around him.
“You still continue to deny responsibility for the assault, which is at odds with the agreed narrative previously presented to the court.
“There is no other appropriate sentence in this case – the sentence will be one of five years and four months.”
Helped by hero medics
Greig, of Charleston Drive, Dundee, pled guilty to assaulting Mr Ward to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and to the danger of his life.
Prosecutor Victoria Dow told the court Greig has 94 previous convictions for 189 offences for matters including dishonesty, knife possession, drugs and road traffic offences.
Mr Ward was a family man who helped his 82-year-old mother and 89-year-old father with shopping, travel and taking them to medical appointments.
Greig attacked his victim at 1.30pm on April 6 2022 in Lochee.
Members of the public found Mr Ward “lying motionless in the middle of the road”, Ms Dow said.
David Lomas and Jennifer Rollo, an off-duty nurse and doctor, respectively gave help before he was rushed to hospital.
Surgeons operated to relieve pressure on the right side of his brain but he remains an inpatient in the Neurological ward at Ninewells and dependent on 24-hour nursing care.
Police welcome case conclusion
Detective Inspector Allan Thomson of Police Scotland said: “Steven Greig’s actions were so violent that he left a man in a critical condition in hospital.
“His behaviour was unprovoked, has had a long term effect on the victim, and his conviction brings a difficult investigation to conclusion.”
“Police Scotland treat all violent crime as a priority and will continue to bring the suspects of these crimes to justice.”
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