An Angus man who carried out a drug-fuelled and frenzied attack on a “friend” has been jailed for two years.
Robbie Kelly, 21, of Arbroath beat takeaway worker Sui Hon Cheng to a bloody pulp in broad daylight in the town’s Bridge Street on October 22 last year.
Kelly had been in a bookmakers shop with the man minutes before the unprovoked attack but launched into the assault while under a haze of drugs.
Kelly, previously of Waverly Terrace and now of Perth Prison, admitted to following Mr Sui out of the shop before he approached him from behind and struck him on the head, knocking him to the ground.
He proceeded to repeatedly punch and kick his innocent victim on the head and body, demanding money from him during the attack before attempting to rob him.
The incident sparked a major police operation in the Westport area of Arbroath and police cordoned off Bridge Street before Kelly was subsequently arrested.
He has been held in custody since appearing in private at Arbroath sheriff court on October 23 and admitted the indictment in January.
He appeared for sentencing on Tuesday at Arbroath Sheriff Court where Sheriff Gregor Murray told Kelly it was “extremely fortunate” that he had not killed Mr Sui during the assault.
Defence agent Billy Rennie told the court Kelly had amassed a number of convictions but that violence was “not a feature at large.”
He said: “The background to the offence is touched upon in the report and there seems to have been something of a lost weekend as a result of the use of Valium for the first time by him.
“He has little recollection of anything to do with the offence or even appearing in court a day or two later.
“The other aspect that gives some credibility to that is that in this case he considers the complainer to be someone that he gets on well with.
“He is ashamed and expresses disgust at having this happen to someone he considered a friend.”
Mr Rennie added: “He has done everything he can to get this matter resolved as quickly as possible and has expressed remorse.”
Sheriff Murray said despite Kelly’s remorse there was no alternative to prison.
“This was the culmination of an upward spiral of rebellious behaviour on your part,” said the Sheriff.
“Numerous community disposals have been imposed on you before and they have been breached.
“It is extremely fortunate that you did not kill the complainer in what was a drug-fuelled, frenzied robbery and assault.”
Kelly’s sentence was back-dated to October 23.
Photo byAngus Pictures