Pair just out of prison assault man in street Victim left bleeding from the head

Two thugs, one off his head on drugs, attacked a complete stranger in broad daylight in Perth city centre - the day after they were freed from prison.

Victim James Hutton was left with blood pouring from his forehead after the vicious assault, which left him scarred for life, Perth Sheriff Court was told this week.

Several passers-by looked on in horror as 29-year-old Liam MacDonald headbutted Mr Hutton outside Barclays bank in High Street after claiming that he owed him £50 from the previous night.

Mr Hutton stumbled back, with blood streaming from his forehead, as the accused then repeatedly punched him on the head and body.

Mr Hutton tried to defend himself and threw a punch at MacDonald before a co-accused, 26-year-old Shaun McLeod, joined in the street fight.

He also began to rain down blows on the other man before the pair walked off. A passing motorist had witnessed the violent incident, which took place shortly after 9am, and called the police.

Officers took Mr Hutton to Perth Royal Infirmary where he had paper stitches inserted to close a twocentimetre laceration to his forehead.

MacDonald was jailed for 12 months for what Sheriff William Wood described as a “vicious headbutt.”

McLeod, whose part in the attack didn’t result in any injury, was given 10 months behind bars.

Described as a prisoner at Perth, he admitted pursuing Mr Hutton in Perth High Street on April 6, 2019, repeatedly seizing him by the body, headbutting him and punching him to the head and body.

He then pushed him against a wall, with intent to rob him, to his injury and permanent disfigurement.

McLeod, also a prisoner at Perth, was given 10 months behind bars after he repeatedly punched Mr Hutton on the head and body.

His part in the attack didn’t result in any injuries.

Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson told the court that Mr Hutton didn’t know either accused and had “never met nor seen them before.”

He had left his home to go for electricity credit when he saw both men walking towards him near Sainsburys supermarket.

MacDonald shouted at him “hey you” but he ignored them several times.

Mr Hutton said he had “no knowledge” of the loan and refused to hand over any cash before he was headbutted.

The two accused walked away but Mr Hutton then caught up with MacDonald and threw a punch at him.

His accomplice, who was high on drugs, then took part in the fracas.

It was explained that both had been freed from Perth Prison on April 5 and had met up in the reception area of the jail.

A lawyer for MacDonald submitted that the injury, above the victim’s left eyebrow, was at the “lower end” of the permanent disfigurement scale.

McLeod was said to have “struggled with substance misuse difficulties.”

His solicitor added: “On his release he had consumed illicit substances and his recollection of events is essentially nil.”

Both men admitted a number of previous convictions.