A queue-jumping pool player brutally assaulted a man with a glass bottle after he was called out on his breach of table etiquette.
Kieran Kuzmicki smashed a bottle over the head of the player in Aberdeen’s Mither Tap bar leaving his victim hospitalised.
The attack stemmed from his apparent ignorance of the unofficial rule that whoever places a coin on the edge of a pool table gets to go next.
Kuzmicki jumped the queue at around 9.30pm on October 10, 2019, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
Used 50p to reserve next play
Fiscal depute Lydia Ross said: “The complainer placed a 50 pence piece on the pool table to signify he was going to play the next game.
“On returning five to 10 minutes later he saw there were new players at the table. He questioned one of the players, the accused, about this at which point the complainer was subsequently kicked to the body and struck on the head with a bottle.”
The man had to be taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment to a cut on his head.
Kizmucki, now 20, admitted a charge of assault to severe injury ahead of a trial diet.
His defence agent Chris Maitland said it was a “retaliation” and claimed Kizmucki’s victim had thrown the first swing.
“He accepts too that alcohol is not an excuse but it’s an explanation for why he was acting this way,” the solicitor added.
“He was 17 so shouldn’t have been in the bar. It does seem a silly thing for this to flare up over … 50p on a pool table.”
The court heard Kizmucki had shown “appropriate remorse and some level of insight”.
Mr Maitland added that his client had since moved north to Rothes to “get a sensible head on and make something of himself” and is actively seeking work.
Victim seriously injured by bottle
Sheriff Robert McDonald told Kizmucki: “An assault of this kind where you are hitting somebody with a glass bottle is particularly serious.
“I have seen the photos that show the extent of the injury and it’s extremely fortunate there was not a more serious injury in this case.
“It seems the move away from Aberdeen has not been a bad thing for you, however.”
He handed Kuzmicki, of High Street, Rothes, a one-year supervision order and 180 hours of unpaid work.
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