A man has avoided jail for a matchday attack in which he left a Forfar fan lying unconscious in the street with a broken jaw.
Robert Carnegie’s victim had been at Station Park hospitality with pals before heading to the nearby Caledonian Bar to continue their day out.
Trouble flared in the pub and when 39-year-old Carnegie followed Stuart McIntyre into the street he delivered a volley of punches, including the blow which knocked the man out as he hit the street.
Depute fiscal Stewart Duncan told the town’s sheriff court a disturbance broke out in the pub at around 8.30pm and the group which included the victim decided to leave.
“The three witnesses were followed by the accused, who approached Mr McIntyre and an argument started.
“This escalated, whereby the accused assaulted Mr McIntyre by repeatedly punching him about the body and head. That caused him to fall to the ground and he was knocked unconscious,” the fiscal added.
The court heard the victim was taken to hospital after suffering injuries including loose teeth, swelling to his face and head and the fractured jaw.
Defence solicitor Nick Markowski said: “Mr Carnegie has asked me to publicly apologise to the complainer in relation to this matter.
“It is alcohol-related, he had gone out drinking in the middle of the afternoon and was playing pool with a friend in the pub.
“As is customary, some of the people from the football had also gone to the bar, all parties were fairly drunk and there seems to have been a bit of trouble between the two groups of men.
“A pool ball was thrown and he got involved with the complainer. I am happy to report that medical reports suggest the fracture settled without surgical intervention,” added Mr Markowski.
“Initially this matter was raised on petition and my client is apologetic, but has little recollection of the incident.
“He has a record as a younger man which is analogous, but is aware that a custodial sentence will be at the forefront of the court’s mind. He has not served a custodial sentence previously.”
The solicitor said Carnegie, of Lour Road, Forfar is a full-time carer for his elderly mother and a jail term would impact on that role.
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown told the accused, who admitted assaulting Mr McIntyre in Don Street, Forfar on January 28 last year: “You have a record of violent offending and you are at high risk of receiving a custodial sentence.”
Carnegie received a Community Payback Order with supervision and was ordered to complete 225 hours unpaid work within two years.
