His head was being kicked about like it was football..he could have easily been killed
Witness horrified by brutal assault
THESE horrific images show a thug kicking a man’s head “like a football” as he lay defenceless on the ground.
Residents watched in horror as the sickening assault took place in a car park in East Kilbride, leaving victim Ciaran Flynn with a broken jaw. John Marshall, 26, who has a string of convictions for violence and was on early release from prison, was locked up for more than three years after admitting the vile attack in June this year. Hamilton Sheriff Court was shown the footage of the incident, which was captured by a resident who rushed to the aid of the victim and called 999. The local, who doesn’t want to be named, said: “It was absolutely horrific to witness – there is no other way to describe it.
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The guy was lying on the ground being kicked in the temple.
“His head was being kicked about like it was a football – he could have easily been killed.
“There is absolutely no way the sentence fits the crime. He should have been given longer in jail.”
Scott King, prosecuting, said the assault happened in a car park at about 7.30pm.
The court heard Marshall, from Castlemilk, Glasgow, pushed Ciaran over after being taunted about not being from East Kilbride, before booting him three times in the head.
A group including the accused and Ciaran had been having a “discussion” and there was no indication the men knew each other before that night.
The 28-year-old victim was left with a broken jaw and bone piercing his skin into his mouth.
King added that Ciaran needed surgery and suffered numbness in his face and was unable to eat properly.
He said: “He had to maintain a soft diet due to his inability to open his mouth fully.”
Passing sentence, Sheriff Waldron told Marshall: “You have an appalling record for violence.”