Two Arbroath men have been warned they face jail after leaving an all-day drinking buddy with a broken jaw after turning on him in a town park.
Ryan Brander and Jamie Sim went back to the pub after beating busker John Plant last September, leaving their victim requiring realignment of his cheekbone and a broken jaw which had to be repaired with two metal plates.
After admitting a serious assault indictment at Forfar Sheriff Court on Tuesday, the duo were told by Sheriff Gregor Murray that prison is a “distinct possibility” when they return for sentencing next month following the preparation of social work reports.
Brander, 27, of Sycamore Path, and Sim, 24, of Sidney Street, both admitted assaulting John Plant in Springfield Path, Arbroath, on Thurday, rendering him unconscious to his severe injury.
Depute fiscal Susan Ruta said the victim was a stranger to the pair prior to that day, but was well known as a busker in Arbroath.
That morning, Mr Plant had been drinking with a friend around midday and then happened to meet Brander and Sim.
The three then went to Arbroath’s Abbey Inn, spent the day with their victim, and then returned to the same pub after 9pm that night.
They then bought more alcohol at an off-licence before going to Sim’s home, and around 10.30pm the trio went to the Bowler’s Bar.
“They were initially served drinks but the barman then decided the complainer was too drunk and asked them to leave,” Ms Ruta told the court.
Shortly after, Brander and Sim went back to the Abbey Inn and when asked by other customers if they had “got rid of the other boy” they laughed, the court was told.
However, witnesses noticed what appeared to be blood on Brander’s wrist and both accused were described as being “a bit hyper”.
The depute fiscal told the court that around 11.30pm a man was walking his girlfriend home and he discovered the victim sitting down in the street with his face covered in blood.
When he asked the man what had happened, the complainer simply said: “Two people.”
The passerby was so concerned about the state of the complainer that he helped him to the nearby council homeless unit, where he thought he may have been residing, and staff there called police and paramedics.
Mr Plant was taken to Ninewells Hospital and received treatment for his broken lower jaw but was released just a day later, the court heard.
Ms Ruta said police were unable to obtain a statement from the victim in the immediate aftermath of the attack because he was so drunk, but following investigation which included examination of CCTV images suspicion fell on the accused.
Brander, represented by solicitor Billy Rennie, had also told his mother he had “done something really bad”.
When he was detained by police he told them: “I was stupid and in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’m sorry for what happened and I’m feeling bad for that.”
Sim, represented by solicitor Hamish Watt, was also arrested around the same time but made no comment to police.
Deferring sentence until October 23 for reports, Sheriff Gregor Murray continued bail for each accused.