A remorseless attacker battered and robbed a man in an Aberdeen street, then stamped on his head when he had nothing left to steal.
George Clark’s victim felt his nose and lips “burst open” when the 26-year-old pounded on his head while he lay helpless on the ground.
Clark had punched him three times to the head and dragged him onto the cobbles before demanding property and rifling through his pockets.
Fiscal depute Dylan Middleton told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the victim knew Clark, as well as a woman who was there at the time of the incident.
The court heard the victim had gone out to “source drugs” at a property on Gerrard Street.
When he was on his way back home, just after midnight on December 8 2020, he heard a female shout his name.
The man then spoke to the woman before Clark approached and punched him three times to the left side of the face, leaving him “panicked and disorientated”.
Mr Middleton said: “He managed to walk onto the middle of the road near to the Gerrard Street Baptist Church, where the accused quickly caught up with him and dragged him onto the cobbles, causing him to land hard on his right elbow.”
‘Drugs have been his downfall’
Clark demanded property from the man and searched his pockets, before taking his wallet and its contents.
Mr Middleton said: “The accused made a final demand for further property and when the complainer told him he had nothing left, the accused stamped on his head several times.
“The complainer managed to curl his arms around his head to protect himself from
some of the stamps, but he felt his nose and lips burst open from the final one.”
Clark then ran off towards George Street.
His victim felt “dizzy and nauseous” but made his way home where a friend found him to have swelling to the left side of his head and blood around his face.
He refused medical treatment but ambulance staff warned he may be concussed.
Clark’s DNA was later found on the man’s clothing, including around his pockets.
Clark, of Brierfield House, Aberdeen, pled guilty to assault to injury and robbery.
‘I hope you’re able to make use of the time in custody’
Defence agent David Sutherland said his client accepted that custody was “inevitable”, and that a court-ordered social work report was “not the most positive of reports”.
He added: “No remorse has been expressed.”
Mr Sutherland explained there had been a previous issue between the men.
He went on: “Drugs have been his downfall.
“He feels better for his time in custody. He goes to the gym on a regular basis and has no interest in drugs.
“He understands the test will be when he’s released back into society. He intends to remain drug-free.”
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin told Clark: “I hope you’re able to make use of the time in custody and make good on your intention to remain drug-free and offence-free.”
She jailed him for 15 months.
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