PUB RAMMY LANDS KNIFE THUG IN JAIL
‘Pile of bodies ’was fighting out in foyer
A knife thug has been jailed after a man was stabbed during a mass disturbance in an East Kilbride pub.
Andrew Allan was punched for no reason as he put money in a jukebox at the Murray Bar.
He was then knifed on the side of the head by Alan Craik.
Craik, 39, was given a two-year prison sentence at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday.
He admitted assaulting Mr Allan to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement on November 7.
The court heard violence flared around 11.30pm after staff refused to serve Craik and pal Scott Brown.
Jennifer McLaren, prosecuting, said that when the pair arrived at the pub Brown was involved in an altercation with another man.
CCTV showed this man being held back by his partner as he tried to chase Brown.
Ms McLaren told the court: “The accused and Brown were then refused service because Brown was banned under the Pubwatch scheme.
“Mr Allan and his brother Stuart were also in the bar.
“Andrew Allan was standing at the jukebox when Brown walked past and gave him a small punch
to the ribs. A fight broke out and the CCTV shows Stuart Allan taking a flying kick at Brown.
“There is what seems like a pile of bodies fighting and this spills out to the foyer.
“The cameras then show Craik walking out of the bar, putting his hood up and pulling out a knife from his clothing.
“He walks back towards the disturbance and Andrew Allan is heard to shout‘He’s got a knife’. The accused then stabs Andrew Allan on the side of the head before running away, chased by several people, some in possession of pool cues.
“Craik and Brown then jump into a BMW vehicle and leave the area.”
Ms McLaren said the victim was taken by ambulance to Hairmyres Hospital.
He had a 3-4cm wound to the side of his head that required eight stitches.
Defence agent Andy Thomson stressed that Craik wasn’t involved in the original incident. He and Brown then found themselves outnumbered.
Mr Thomson added:“What he did was unacceptable – it was excessive.
“But he acted after seeing his friend on the ground, surrounded by nine or 10 people.”
Craik, he admitted, has convictions for violence.
He suffers from bipolar disorder but is intelligent and has studied law.
Sheriff David Young accepted Craik had not started the trouble and reacted after his pal was attacked.
But he told him:“You took a knife, returned to the pub and struck this man on the head.
“You have previous convictions for assault and carrying a knife, so there is no alternative to custody.”
Craik’s sentence was reduced from 32 months because of his guilty plea.
It was backdated to February 3 as he has been in custody since then.