A Dundee thug who slashed a rival with a machete during an early-morning brawl at a Perth hotel has been jailed for three years.
Michael Carle was rushed to hospital with serious facial injuries following the brutal assault in a second floor bedroom at the New County Hotel.
It happened on November 17 2020 – two years before the County Place venue was closed down following a tragic fire.
Euan Boyes appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted assaulting 29-year-old Mr Carle to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
The court heard Boyes, 30, set upon his victim with a variety of weapons.
He struck him on the head with a glass bottle, before striking him with a machete.
Mr Carle passed out after being stabbed on the body with a knife.
Police were scrambled to the venue, following reports of a disturbance involving several people at around 7.30am.
Tradesman Boyes, of Provost Road, was jailed for three years and will be supervised for a year following his release from prison.
Patricia McCormack, also of Provost Road, Dundee, admitted a minor role in the assault.
The court heard the 30-year-old slapped Mr Carle on the head.
She was sentenced to 140 hours unpaid work.
Risk to the public
Sheriff William Wood pointed out Boyes had become a serial offender.
“I am entitled to take account of your subsequent offending in assessing your risk to the public.
“Clearly you are a man who is violently disposed when the mood takes you, or particularly when you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
He said: “I am satisfied that only a custodial sentence is appropriate.
“And on your release you should be subject to additional measures.”
The sheriff said: “Had you been appearing for the first time in relation to this matter I would be considering a sentence in excess of four years.
“However, given the time you have spent in custody since the offence was committed, I think that the appropriate sentence would be one of less than that, with a period of supervision once you’re released to protect the public from serious harm.”
Boyes was told his jail time would begin immediately, rather than back-dated to when he was first remanded in November 2020.
The sheriff added: “You appeared in court for the first time at the age of 27, which is highly unusual in itself.
“It is to be hoped that whatever good influences there were before you turned to drugs will reassert themselves.”
Taxi office rammy
The day after the attack, Boyes was involved in a violent disturbance at the Radio Taxis office in Scott Street.
Perth Sheriff Court previously heard he was high on alcohol and street valium when he told a staff member: “Big bouncer boy better get out of here or I’m going to stab him.”
He then hurled a rubbish bin at the taxi office window.
Boyes, previously of Perth’s Glenshee Crescent, had also admitted using a knife during a home invasion in Dundee’s Provost Road on March 11 2021.
When the two cases called at Perth Sheriff Court in July 2021, Boyes was jailed for 22 months.
Last year, he appeared at the same court and admitted smashing up work vans belonging to a rival roofing business.
Fatal blaze
The January 2023 blaze at the New County Hotel is still under investigation.
Three people and a dog died in the early morning fire. Eleven others were treated for minor injuries.
Just weeks earlier, fire chiefs had demanded that the hotel fix a series of issues relating to emergency doors, exits and lighting.
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