An Angus man took “around 80 punches” to the head from a “hired thug” accused of abducting him from his home, a court has heard.
A trial at Forfar Sheriff Court heard Jonathon Gourley then changed out of bloody clothing to be driven to a bank by Perth men Robert Selby and William Moore.
The jury was told the pair came into his Airlie house on October 22 last year and demanded money he was due Selby for building work, before Moore started to assault the complainer.
Mr Gourley said he thought Moore was “a hired thug”.
Selby and Moore deny forcing the man into a van at Cantsmill Farm Cottage near Kirriemuir and driving him to Clydesdale Bank on Castle Street, Forfar, to withdraw money.
Prosecutors allege Selby and Moore detained Mr Gourley against his will and assaulted him to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and to the danger of his life by repeatedly punching him on the head.
Mr Gourley, 42, said he was not aware of any grievance about money but thought there was “some offence” taken over a job.
He said Selby and Moore let themselves into his house and demanded he come with them to the bank to withdraw £1,500.
“I started being punched in the temple very accurately and very hard,” he said.
“I realised it was definitely a professional fighter doing it.
“Eventually the damage was getting so bad that I said yes take me to the bank.”
The court saw CCTV footage of Mr Gourley leaving Selby’s white works van followed by the two accused near the bank.
This was followed by footage from within the branch, in which Mr Gourley was seen to withdraw £1,500 at the counter beside Selby, while dabbing at his face with tissue.
Mr Gourley said he was treated at A&E in Ninewells Hospital and was later operated on.
Surgeons removed bone fragments from around his eye and put in a metal mesh to support his eye.
For Selby, solicitor Jim Laverty asked: “While you were at the bank, why didn’t you say anything to the member of staff?”
Mr Gourley said: “I was covered in blood, there wasn’t much to say.”
For Moore, defence agent John McLaughlin put it to the complainer that he was not punched and sustained his injuries in an earlier fall.
Selby, 34, whose address was given in court papers as Spey Court, Perth, and Moore, 33, a prisoner at Perth, are also alleged to have removed mobile phones from Mr Gourley and another man to prevent them calling for assistance.
The trial, in front of a jury of eight women and seven men, continues.