A drunken man attacked a female stranger in Aberdeen city centre with an ashtray cover and a sandwich board.
Justin Gerrard turned on the woman after they had briefly engaged in conversation, first hitting her to the head with the metal object and then running at her with the board.
And when the woman fled, he used a glass jar to damage the windows of a nearby taxi, causing £250 worth of damage.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard the 30-year-old was so intoxicated he has no recollection of the incident and was unable to shed any light on who the woman was or why he had attacked her.
Fiscal depute Emma Petersen said: “Around 1.20am on May 3 on Market Street the complainer engaged in conversation with the accused. They walked down towards Trinity Lane together.”
‘It’s all a bit concerning really’
The woman then made her way to Hadden Street and was followed “at pace” by Gerrard, who was holding the metal ashtray cover.
Ms Petersen said: “The accused quickly approached the complainer and struck her from behind on the right side of the head with the metal ashtray cover.
“That caused her to be knocked off her feet and she fell to the ground where she remained for a period of time.”
Gerrard then made his way up towards Union Street before returning and throwing the ashtray cover at the woman, narrowly missing her head.
The fiscal said: “He picked up a sandwich board nearby and ran towards her. That caused her to run away from the accused.”
‘On the face of it, the complainer was a complete stranger’
Gerrard then entered a 24-hour newsagent and came out holding a glass jar which he used to hit the windows of a nearby taxi, causing £250 of damage.
The woman, who suffered a lump and swelling around her eye and cheek, contacted police who arrived and arrested Gerrard.
Gerrard, of Aurs Crescent, Barrhead, pled guilty to possession of an offensive weapon, assault to injury and vandalism.
Appearing without a solicitor, he told the court he had no recollection of the incident.
He added: “Obviously I was intoxicated. I pled guilty because I take responsibility for what I’ve been told that I’ve done.”
Sheriff Graham Buchanan told Gerrard: “It strikes me as quite a serious matter.
“On the face of it, the complainer was a complete stranger.
“I dare say, for the reasons you have explained, you’re not really in a position to tell us how it was you came to be in communication together.”
Gerrard confirmed he wasn’t, and the sheriff went on: “It’s all a bit concerning really. I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to deal with the case and sentence you today without further enquiries.”
He deferred sentence on Gerrard until July for reports to be prepared.
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