A teenager who broke a man’s jaw in a jealous rage after hearing he had slept with his partner has been detained following a hearing at Arbroath Sheriff Court.
Graham Bell (19), of Craig Terrace, Ferryden, admitted that on March 7 at Montrose High Street he assaulted the man to his severe injury by punching him to the head.
Bell had been jealous of a relationship between his girlfriend and the complainer in the case, who was left needing metal plates to hold his jaw together, the court heard.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said Bell had been walking with his partner in the early hours of the morning when the man approached the couple from across the street.
She added, “Within seconds and without warning the accused punched the complainer to the face.
“The complainer then crossed back over the road to meet his associates and told them he had been punched.”
The man who had been struck then attended a party, returning home at around 9am.
Ms Drummond said, “His sister noticed swelling around the left eye and face.
“He told his sister he had been punched, before retiring to bed.”
Finding himself unable to speak in the morning, the man attended a doctor in Montrose before being passed on to specialists at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. An X-ray revealed two breaks to the left of his jaw and a fracture to the right of his chin.
Bell’s defence agent Billy Rennie said his client had admitted the assault when questioned by the police.
He added, “He was aware the complainer had been seriously injured and he had heard he had broken his jaw and he felt sorry about it.
“He said he didn’t mean to hurt him. With what had gone on before he had anger towards him.”
Sheriff Jamie Gilmour sentenced Bell to 10 months’ detention.