A drunken Angus man attacked a Good Samaritan who was trying to help him up from the ground.
Callum Miller from Monifieth had previously admitted punching the man causing him to fall, before sitting astride him as he repeatedly punched his head to his injury.
Arbroath Sheriff Court heard the 27-year-old, from Durham Street, had been refused service at a local pub prior to the incident in the town’s High Street on August 29.
Fiscal depute Arlene Shaw said Miller was known to his victim, who had been drinking in the pub that night.
She said: ”Between 6pm and 9pm the complainer was in the public house. He had a couple of drinks but was not drunk.
”Sometime during that period the accused entered the pub and was refused service as the staff said he was too intoxicated.
”The accused left the pub and around five minutes thereafter the complainer also left the pub to return home.”
The victim saw Miller’s dog running loose but at that stage there was no sign of him. He then found Miller lying in the road and attempted to help him get to his feet.
Ms Shaw said: ”Without warning the accused punched him on the face causing him to fall to the ground.
”He thereafter sat on him and repeatedly punched him on the head. The complainer was unable to prevent him. The attack was entirely unprovoked and witnesses observed it.”
A taxi driver intervened to stop the assault and the men were separated.
The following morning the injured man attended Ninewells Hospital with swelling and bruising and a suspected broken nose. He contacted the police and Miller was later arrested, telling officers: ”I don’t remember any of it. I don’t do things like that.”
Defence agent Nick Markowski said his client suffered from bipolar disorder and was on a prescription of anti-psychotic drugs.
Sheriff Peter Paterson sentenced Miller to a one-year community payback order and set compensation to the victim at £300.