Thug scarred off-duty cop with Buckfast bottle

A THUG who scarred an off-duty police officer with a Buckfast bottle after a Scotland football match was spared jailed.

Michael McLaughlin, 18, assaulted PC Alan Frame outside the Clutha Bar last September.

McLaughlin initially approached the off-duty policeman asking for money before striking him on the head. He pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to the assault to PC Frame’s severe injury.

McLaughlin, who has previous convictions for assault and breach of the peace, also admitted breaching his bail conditions on two separate occasions.

Sheriff Tony Kelly told McLaughlin he would benefit with a communitybased disposal with alcohol counselling over a custodial sentence. He added: “This was an attack on a member of the public without any justification whatsoever.

“It was cowardly and merciless and the consequences could have been catastrophic and fortunately they weren’t but you didn’t care what the consequences would be.”

McLaughlin received two years supervision, 200 hours of unpaid work and a six-month restriction of liberty order keeping him indoors from 7pm to 7am.

The court heard PC Frame and another off-duty officer had gone to the pub following Scotland’s defeat to Russia.

PC Frame waited for his colleague outside at the end of the night and noticed a group of people had narrowly avoided being hit by a taxi.

The officer told the group to be careful before McLaughlin approached him for “a couple of quid for a taxi.”

PC Frame told McLaughlin that he didn’t have any money which prompted a “discussion” between the pair.

Prosecutor Mark Allan said: “McLaughlin staggered backward to the roadway, but soon returned in possession of a glass Buckfast bottle.

“He then struck PC Frame with the bottle, causing a wound to his head.”

The attacker was restrained by PC Frame but later broke free and fled the scene.

A witness carried out first aid to PC Frame who was “bleeding heavily” and dialled 999. The officer was taken to hospital for treatment where he received 15 stitches and glue to his head.

Mr Allan said: “The doctor stated there was significant bleeding from the wounds and if not treated could have caused significant blood loss.

“In his view there will be likely scarring.”

McLaughlin, of the city’s Castlemilk, was traced and charged with assault and replied: “I didn’t hit him on the head.”

A month later, McLaughlin was arrested again after telling officers to “F*** off” and “Am telling you f***ing nothing” following an unrelated incident.

He initially resisted arrest and shouted at the officers “I’m gonnae f***ing kill yous.”

Jackson Bateman, defending, said McLaughlin acted in an “unacceptable manner”.