A boozy reveller made peace with a bouncer following a row – but then lashed out and punched him mid-handshake.
Would-be pubgoer Andrew Gray had enjoyed “too much heat, sun and alcohol” before the bust-up outside the Scottish Embassy pub in Aberdeen, his solicitor claimed.
The 25-year-old had to be restrained by a bouncer after he was refused entry to the Trinity Street watering hole for already being “highly intoxicated” on Saturday night.
Fiscal depute Kirsty Martin told Aberdeen Sheriff Court how Gray tried to get in around 8.10pm but was told by the door steward that he’d had enough drink.
Gray told the man “are you going to try and stop me?” and tried to barge his way past and into the pub before he was taken to the ground and restrained.
Called for backup
The bouncer had to radio for help from a colleague at the nearby Market Arms pub and his aide successfully calmed and appeased Gray with a promise that if he calmed down they would “let him up and on his way”.
But, after Gray got to his feet and extended a hand by way of truce, he changed his mind and punched the bouncer in the face mid-handshake.
“He got up and he shook the complainer’s hand with his own left hand,” the fiscal added. “But, in the same moment, he used his right hand to reach across and punch him on the left side of his face.
“He had to be restrained again.”
When police arrived, Gray, a kitchen fitter with a Dundee-based branch of OA kitchens, then kicked out at three male officers in an attempt to evade arrest.
Gray admitted one charge of assaulting a retail worker while in the course of their employment and another of resisting arrests and hindering officers.
Blamed the heat and sun
Defence agent Theo Finlay said the young man had taken too much booze on a hot day and now regretted his actions.
“He had far too much to drink and it had completely gone to his head,” he said. “He had been drinking through the day, and the heat and sun and too much alcohol is what caused this.
“He was given the opportunity to demonstrate remorse but then took a swing at the bouncer. He thereafter struggled with officers.
“I think his initial reason was that he had sustained some injuries and abrasions on his shoulders during the restraint – and this had aggrieved him.”
Sheriff Lesley Johnston said a financial penalty was not “sufficient” and instead handed Gray, of Graham Court, Dundee, 60 hours of unpaid work.
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