A Scottish international wrestling champion who stabbed and bit another man during a party has avoided a prison sentence “by a very narrow margin”.
George Reid, 23, of Beauly Crescent, Dundee, admitted at the city’s sheriff court that, on June 8 last year at Princes Street, he assaulted Kieran Simpson and repeatedly bit him on the face and body and repeatedly struck him on the body with a knife, to his injury and permanent disfigurement.
The Scottish Backhold Wrestling champion threatened to kill Mr Simpson before lunging at him with knives, causing injuries to his arm and body and biting a chunk out of his right cheek, the court heard.
Reid further admitted breaching his bail order three times, on December 18 2012, February 1 and March 18 this year. The attack left his victim badly injured, scarred and in fear of contracting hepatitis C.
Reid walked free from court after being handed a community payback order which brought a furious reaction from Scottish Conservative chief whip John Lamont, who called it a “paltry” sentence.
Previously, depute fiscal Douglas Wiseman told the court that Reid had been at a party with his girlfriend, who had also gone out with Mr Simpson, 20, after they had split up.
Reid and his girlfriend were back together and initially there was no problem between Reid and Mr Simpson.
However, shortly after 10pm Reid’s mood changed and, with tensions running high, he went into the kitchen followed by another witness.
There he got several knives and went back through to confront the victim, threatening to kill him. He struck him several times before others intervened to stop the assault.
Defence solicitor Anika Jethwa told the court that Reid had “never behaved like this before” and said the assault was “out of character” for him.
Ms Jethwa said Reid was a “very talented wrestler” was in the Scottish squad, and that the president of the Scottish Wrestling Bond William Baxter had written a letter to the court on his behalf.
She said: “He is someone who is committed to that sport and assists in the training of youngsters and he is someone who, prior to this, had not been involved in any serious offending.”
Sheriff Kenneth McGowan placed Reid on an 18-month community payback order, told him to carry out 225 hours of unpaid work and ordered him to pay £1,500 compensation to Mr Simpson.
He further fined Reid £200 for his breaches of bail and told him: “I have decided in this case by a very narrow margin not to send you to jail.”
Mr Lamont said: “This kind of story is becoming more and more familiar a vicious crime followed up by a paltry sentencing.
“It’s a direct result of the SNP doing away with short-term sentences, instead encouraging sheriffs to be as lenient as possible.
“That’s an insult to victims and, what’s more, sends out the wrong message to those willing to engage in this level of behaviour. No wonder no one takes the SNP seriously on their crime claims when cases like this come to light.”