A north-east man jailed for a brutal attack in which he “played football” with his victim’s head will have his legal bid to reduce his sentence heard in December.
Roy Buchan is serving an eight-year sentence in a young offenders’ institution after admitting beating 51-year-old Michael Crawford during a row at Crimond, Aberdeenshire.
The assault, in September 2007, shortened Mr Crawford’s life expectancy by some 20 years and he now needs round-the-clock care.
Buchan, of The Corse, Crimond, has since launched an appeal against his sentence.
The case had been due to call at the High Court in Edinburgh in September but was put off because Buchan’s defence team wanted to add further grounds to his appeal.
The Scottish Court Service has now confirmed that Buchan’s appeal will be heard on December 2.
Buchan originally appeared on indictment at Peterhead Sheriff Court in June, where he admitted attacking Mr Crawford, with three others.
The 20-year-old punched Mr Crawford in the face and then kicked him again and again as he lay on the ground. He also stamped on his head.
Peterhead Sheriff Marysia Lewis deferred the case to the High Court, telling Buchan the maximum term she could impose, three years, was not enough.
On June 4, Buchan appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh and was sentenced to eight years.
He will be under strict supervision for four years after the end of his sentence, which means he could be locked up again if he reoffends.
The court had heard that Mr Crawford, who has a history of drink and drug problems, had gone to Crimond to try to sell a stolen stereo.
There he met four men, including Buchan. An argument broke out and Mr Crawford tried to run to the safety of a friend’s car.
He was grabbed before he reached the vehicle and beaten unconscious on the street.
Horrified locals in Logie Road, where the attack happened, said Buchan had “played football” with Mr Crawford’s head. They described the beating as “merciless”.
Mr Crawford was taken to hospital in Aberdeen and doctors found bleeding in his brain and broken bones in his skull.
Defence advocate Mark Strachan said Buchan, a former fisherman, had no memory of the incident but was genuinely sorry for what had happened.
The court heard Buchan’s life had been blighted by drink and drugs.