A MAN branded a “wild animal” by a sheriff after foaming at the mouth while he brutally attacked a man, pinned him to the floor then sliced his face open by biting it was today jailed.
Andrew Rutherford launched the unprovoked attack on Ross Burns as he tried to care for a female friend who had fallen asleep because she was drunk.
Crazed Rutherford accused Mr Burns of spiking her drink before violently attacking him in an attack captured in an “horrific” two minute CCTV film.
A sheriff told Rutherford he had acted “like a wild animal” and told him he faces jail.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson showed Dundee Sheriff Court footage taken on a CCTV camera at the bar at Buskers in Dundee city centre.
It showed Rutherford jumping back and forward as he hurled abuse at Mr Burns – before launching himself at him and repeatedly punching him on the face and shoving him to the ground.
Miss Robertson said: “The accused sat on top of him shouting at him ‘I’m going to bite you’.
“The accused thereafter bit him on the face and staff then pulled the accused off the complainer.
“The accused was described as foaming at the mouth.
“The accused left and was traced outside shortly after while Mr Burns was taken to Ninewells Hospital.
“He had an incision on the left side of his upper lip that required three stitches to close.
“He also required three Hepatitis B injections.
“He has been left with a visible scar which he feels alters people’s perceptions of him.”
Rutherford, 24, of Drumlithie Place, Dundee, pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of assault committed on September 24 last year at Buskers Bar in Ward Road, Dundee.
Douglas McConnell, defending, said: “He has a record for assault but this takes it to a higher level.”
Sheriff Elizabeth Munro jailed Rutherford for 18 months.
She said: “That is one of the most horrific pieces of CCTV footage I’ve ever seen – he was like a wild animal.
“I have to say I’m really quite shocked at what I’ve just seen – and I’ve seen a lot of CCTV footage of assaults.
“That really was alarming.”
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