Man left with facial fractures after attack outside takeaway

A MAN who was the victim of an unprovoked attack outside a city takeaway was left with two facial fractures.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard Omar Rafiq, 28, and Lee Murphy, 33, both punched Paul Gordon on each side of his face.

The assault took place in the early hours of December 17 last year as Mr Gordon attempted to buy food from Corfu, North Lindsay Street, after a night drinking in city centre pubs.

Fiscal depute Saima Rasheed said Mr Gordon was refused food as the takeaway was closing.

The fiscal said: “The complainer left the takeaway and accused Rafiq approached him in the street and pointed at him.

“He then walked away from the complainer but came back again and punched him on the right side of his head.”

Mr Gordon’s nose was bleeding and he was given tissues by staff at Corfu.

At this point Murphy was seen on CCTV to gesture towards the takeaway, then approach Mr Gordon as he left the shop.

The fiscal continued: “Accused Murphy then punched the complainer on the left side of his face, which caused the complainer to fall back. Accused Murphy was held back from the complainer by his friends and the complainer got into a taxi.”

Mr Gordon woke up the next day with severe pain in his jaw and eye. He also had numbness in his teeth and reduced sensation in his cheek on the left side.

Mr Gordon had flashbacks of the assault and reported it to police before going to A&E at Ninewells Hospital. He was found to have fractures in his cheekbone and jaw.

The incident was captured on CCTV and Rafiq and Murphy were traced the same day.

Rafiq, of Ladywell Avenue, and Murphy, a prisoner at Perth, both admitted while acting together they assaulted Paul Gordon by punching him repeatedly on the head, to his severe injury, at North Lindsay Street.

Solicitors John Boyle and George Donnelly both said they would reserve their comments in mitigation until reports were available.

Sheriff Simon Collins QC deferred sentencing until May 6 for reports.