A drunken thug who fractured a man’s eye socket with one punch in a brawl outside a nightclub has avoided jail.
Innes Wilson, 45, lashed out at peacemaker Preston Laing outside Prohibition nightclub in Langstane Place, Aberdeen on May 15 last year.
Mr Laing was trying to calm things down after seeing a friend embroiled in a row, but found himself in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after Wilson landed the brutal blow.
Fiscal depute Sophie Hanlon told Aberdeen Sheriff Court: “The complainant and his friends had been at Prohibition nightclub. He had left and was about to go home, but he observed a friend in an altercation.
“He approached the male in a bid to diffuse the situation. He tried to usher people away from a group of females and but the accused was behaving in an aggressive manner. He punched the complainant on the right side of his face, who then fell to the ground.
“CCTV operatives informed police where the incident had taken place and they attended to the complainant. He was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where his injury was assessed. He suffered a fracture of his right eye socket. He was later released from hospital, to return and attend the fracture clinic.”
Wilson, of Bloomfield Road, Aberdeen, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Laing, punching him to the face to his severe injury.
Defence agent Laura Bell said: “He had been consuming alcohol. He accepts responsibility and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. He is horrified about the injury he has caused. He is aware this is a very serious matter.”
Sheriff Graham Buchanan said: “It sounds as if drinking played a part in this. That is no excuse.
“He ended up with a nasty injury, and it isn’t known if he needed surgery.”
Wilson was given a 12-month supervision order, and told to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.
