A roofer who broke a man’s jaw in a “sneaky and cowardly” assault outside an Oban pub has narrowly avoided a jail sentence.
Cameron Laird, 24, of Marine Court in Dunbeg, had been enjoying a night out in the Combie Street pub on November 17 2023, when his victim approached him and they exchanged words.
A police video compiled from CCTV inside the Lochavullin and from a camera at This and That Stores on Combie Street was shown to Oban Sheriff Court.
Oban roofer who punched a man
After a dispute inside the pub, the men shook hands, and the evening continued. The men did not know each other.
However, the complainer was seen shadow-boxing behind Laird and annoying other customers.
Staff then took matters into their own hands, separating the men. They appeared to be trying to get the complainer to leave the bar.
When the bar closed, all parties spilled out onto Combie Street.
Laird was then seen to walk across the street and, without warning, punched the complainer, causing him to fall to the ground with injury.
In his defence, lawyer Jane MacNiven said: “The complainer went to fight Mr Laird, and asked him to go outside to fight.”
Due to the level of intoxication, Laird was said to have “no recognition of what happened”.
The court was told it was not until Laird saw the compilation video that he realised he was at fault and immediately indicated his intention to plead guilty at the next calling of the case.
He pled guilty at an earlier hearing.
Mrs McNiven continued: “He cannot explain why he did not simply walk away. He knows he would have been better to walk away. He knows he should not have taken matters into his own hands.”
The complainer suffered a fractured jaw
The complainer contacted the police the following day or the day after.
He had suffered a fractured jaw and was unable to work while he recovered from his injuries, the court was told.
Sheriff Euan Cameron said: “For all this is a summary complaint, it is a nasty assault with significant injuries. It is a nasty assault from behind.
“Your client has been previously convicted in this court for assault.
“For many, that would have been a wake-up call. Your client has taken a different view.”
Sheriff Cameron said the custody threshold had been reached.
Mrs McNiven argued that there was a “viable alternative” to custody.
Sheriff Cameron asked: “Is he even sorry?”
Mrs MacNiven said he was “very sorry and apologetic.”
She added: “He needs to stop drinking. He has a number of positive factors in his life, and he has a high level of family support. He is someone who wants to remain at liberty.”
Second assault conviction
Sheriff Cameron continued: “It was sneaky and cowardly [to hit someone from behind]. You don’t appear to have learned your lesson.
“You are now someone with two previous convictions for assault. You are young, and there is a presumption against prison sentences for young people.
“I take into account your youth. You have a reasonably stable family life, and you have full-time, steady employment in a good job.”
Sheriff Cameron sentenced Laird to a community payback order for 12 months “to address difficulties and work with social workers.”
He also ordered the offender to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community and pay his victim £600 in compensation.
Sheriff Cameron continued: “If you had not been a young man, I would have sent you to prison. You come back here for assault and you will.
“If your name crops up here again, I will see what I have written and that you have had a warning, and you will be sent to prison.”
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