Ex-soldier fined £300 for decking man on night out
Fight caught on CCTV
An ex- squaddie felled a reveller with a single punch after a mass brawl erupted at a Paisley town centre nightclub.
Martin Craig, 31, is a former Black Watch soldier who has drummed at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Appearing at Paisley Sheriff Court, he admitted thumping Elliot Rousen after trouble sparked at Fantoosh.
Defence lawyer Tony Callahan insisted his client swung after being chased down during the rammy.
He said: “He was in the army, on home leave. “There was a brawl. “As a person approached him, he lashed out and punched him once.”
The dad backed- off after flooring the man during the early-hours scuffle.
The victim was uninjured by the strike at the bar on Paisley’s New Street.
Craig was traced by officers and hauled into court after an investigation into the melee.
The court was told he has a previous conviction for assault.
Prosecutor Colin Wilson told how a fight broke out around 2.55am on July 17, 2016.
He said: “The assault took place at the club when Mr Rousen was on a night out.
“There was some kind of group fight.
“It was captured on CCTV.”
Craig had previously been part of seven-man forces team which raised hundreds of pounds for Clippens School in Linwood.
He ran a half-marathon dressed in army fatigues and combat boots in aid of pupils with additional support needs.
Mr Callahan revealed he has since left the army and set-up his own flooring firm.
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew insisted there was no need to become embroiled in the fracas.
He said: “There may only have been one punch and it may not have resulted in injury – but there was no need to get involved with this at all.
“This is particularly true when you have a previous conviction for assault.”
Craig, of Fulbar Road, was ordered to pay a £300 fine.
There may only have been one punch and it may not have resulted in injury – but there was no need to get involved with this at all Sheriff Colin Pettigrew