Bottle attack thug’s mum unwell in court Son drank 15 Jaegerbombs before brutal

Assault

Paramedics and an ambulance rushed to Airdrie Sheriff Court yesterday when the mother of a convicted thug became ill in the public benches.

She became unwell as she witnessed her 25-year-old son being led away in handcuffs to begin a 16-month sentence for ripping a man’s face and neck open with a broken bottle.

The court heard how drunken yob Geoff Thomson, of Park Crescent, Airdrie, attacked his victim at a house in Dalveen Quadrant, Coatbridge, after drinking “15 Jaegerbombs in a short space of time.”

Thomson, a full- time carer for his parents, challenged the man to a fight and then struck him repeatedly on the head and body with a glass bottle, leaving him in a pool of blood with severe injuries and permanently scarred.

The vicious attack took place on December 13 last year.

Sentencing Thomson, Sheriff Frank Pieri said: “This was not just striking with a bottle but jabbing his victim with it, which takes it into a different league.

“This is a very tragic case, not only for the effects on [the victim] but also the effect on your own life and your family.”

Sheriff Pieri continued: “It is an extremely serious matter. You struck him and then stabbed him on the head and neck. The only option open to me is to impose a custodial sentence.

“Had it not been for your plea of guilty during the sitting you would have been sentenced to 18 months; I will discount the sentence to 16 months.”

Thomson’s lawyer, Nicky Matteo told the court: “This was a difficult case of a very caring individual.

“He is the full-time carer for his parents and never been in trouble before and yet carries out an offence which caused quite significant injuries.

“He took the pragmatic view not to go to trial and have his victim give evidence.

“On the night of the offence he had taken 15 Jaegerbombs in a short space of time. A custodial sentence would not just affect him but have a devastating effect on his family.

“This is an individual who is extremely remorseful for his actions.”

Thomson denied behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm by brandishing knives and challenging his victim to a fight. His plea was accepted by the Crown.

As Thomson was led from the dock to the cells a member of his family shouted “keep your head up Geoff.”

His mother, who sobbed throughout the hearing, said, “what’s going to happen to me?”; was held up by family members who surrounded her.

A police officer advised the sheriff to leave the bench, while the woman was cared for and then an ambulance was summoned.

Vicious assault Geoff Thomson was jailed for attacking his victim with a bottle