A Dundee man who broke his friend’s jaw outside an Angus 18th birthday party has been told to expect a “significant amount” of unpaid work.
Daniel Gowans, of Gotterstone Drive, knocked Dylan Bonella to the ground with a single punch after a shindig in Birkhill last year.
The first offender appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and pleaded guilty to an indictment alleging assault to severe injury at the Millennium Hall on March 28.
The teenager originally appeared on petition on April 23, facing a charge alleging assault to severe injury and permanent impairment, although the Crown accepted his plea to a lesser charge.
Depute fiscal Joanne Smith explained that Mr Bonella, who was 18 years old at the time of the offence, was considered to be a good friend to the accused.
“On the 28th March a birthday party was held at the locus and ended just before midnight,” she said.
“At 12.30am the complainer and accused became involved in an argument and the accused said ‘You couldn’t take my hardest punch’.
“He then punched the complainer to the face and he fell to the ground.”
The accused then left in a taxi, and Mr Bonella was taken to Ninewells Hospital on March 29, but he left without receiving treatment.
He then attended the hospital’s maxillofacial unit the following day, where his jaw was repaired.
Ms Smith added: “He suffered a fractured jaw, which was repaired using a metal plate and screws, with removal of a wisdom tooth in line with the fracture.”
Gowans told police he “thumped” the complainer because of a derogatory comment about his grandmother, and said he was “deeply remorseful” over the attack.
Sheriff Gregor Murray deferred sentence on Gowans to February 4 for the preparation of criminal justice social work reports, and his bail was continued.
He told Gowans: “Whilst you have pled guilty to a serious offence, you appear as a young man without a criminal record. The likely outcome is that you will likely face a substantial number of hours of unpaid work.”