Thugs receive sentence

Two thugs have escaped a jail term for attacking and injuring a man in an Uddingston street by punching and kicking him.

Ross Lyons (25) and 21-year-old Harry Gibbs were both given supervision and unpaid work last week at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

Lyons – whose address was given as Addiewell prison – had assaulted Gerald Baxter at Newlands Road by repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body.

Co-accused Gibbs, of Lincoln, had assaulted Mr Baxter by repeatedly kicking him on the body.

Ross Lyons last month admitted a charge of assault to severe injury and Gibbs a charge of assault.

A third accused – Jamie Lyons, of Talbot Terrace, Uddingston – pleaded not guilty to the charge of assaulting Mr Baxter, which was accepted by the Crown.

The prosecutor also accepted not guilty pleas from all three accused on a charge of being concerned in the supply of cannabis at Newlands Road in Uddingston on March 22, 2017.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last week Sheriff Marie Smart imposed community payback orders on both men as a direct alternative to custody.

Ross Lyons was required to undergo two-and-a-half years’ supervision and Gibbs a year’s supervision.

In addition, Lyons was ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work and Gibbs 100 hours’ unpaid work.