Brutal attack outside club

Published 11 Aug 2011 08:00

A GROUP of thugs knocked a man unconscious and continued to lay into his motionless body outside a nightclub, Alloa Sheriff Court heard.

Graeme McKinsley (22), Steven Montgomery (21), John Salmond (18) and Robert Stevenson (21) all admitted the brutal assault near Chalmers.

The four came to blows with their victim after an apparent incident in the Bank Street club.

CCTV operators watched in horror as the thugs rounded on the man and knocked him out.

Despite being clearly unconscious on the ground, the hoodlums continued to lash out at him.

Before they eventually ran off Salmond stood over the man and spat on his body.

McKinsley, of Garvally Crescent, Alloa, and Stevenson, of Alloa Road, Fishcross, were both sentenced to a 12 months Community Payback Order including 200 hours and 300 hours unpaid work, respectively.

Sentence on Montgomery, of Deer Park, Sauchie and John Salmond, of Branshill Park, Sauchie, was deferred until next month for reports.

All four appeared at court on Thursday and pled guilty to the assault on 20 February.

Fiscal depute Sue Ruta explained that the complainer had been in Chalmers and was waiting outside at 2.15am when he got in an argument with the four men. The attack was captured on CCTV.

She said, "The argument intensified and Stevenson punched the complainer to the head, following which Montgomery also punched the complainer to his blind side, making contact to his head, causing him to stumble back.

"McKinsley then punched the complainer to the head and he fell to the ground and appeared to be unconscious.

"Thereafter Stevenson kicked the complainer to the head. McKinsley and Montgomery also kicked him to the head and body. Salmond attempted to kick the complainer but didn't connect. He then stood over the unconscious complainer and spat on him."

The four ran off and police traced McKinsley, Salmond and Montgomery a short time later at Alloa Tower. Officers caught up with Stevenson at his home.

The victim was taken to hospital where he was treated for cuts and bruising to his face.

Ms Ruta said he told doctors he could not remember anything from the incident.

Jim Savage, defending Stevenson and McKinsley, said something had happened earlier that night in the club which led to the confrontation.

He said there was an element of provocation and that the complainer shouted "hit me" to them.

Mr Savage said, "It was a violent verbal altercation. McKinsley recognises that this was a serious offence. He recognises this could have been far more serious. He is described as genuinely shocked and distressed that he could be so violent."

He added, "Stevenson states he had been drinking. He too recognises his actions were potentially life-threatening and could have had quite a psychological impact on him."

Sentencing the pair, Sheriff David Mackie said, "It is clear to me by what I've seen in the reports and heard, you have shown considerable remorse. It is said you have been frightened and alarmed by how you behaved. For those reasons you're not going to prison today."

Tweet

This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 10 Aug 11

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Follow @alloatiser