Bottle attack after taxi rank argument

A Stirling man has been spared jail after hitting another man in the face with a bottle during an argument over a taxi.

Jordan MacKenzie (21) hit Stephen Nicholson in the face with the glass bottle as they became involved in a row at the taxi rank in Murray Place following a boozy night out.

MacKenzie, from Keir Avenue, appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday to face the assault charge.

The incident happened in the early hours of February 8.

Prosecuting, Adrian Fraser said:“At about 2am the complainer was at the taxi rank. It was busy at that time and the accused and complainer became involved in a minor disagreement about who was getting in a taxi.”

MacKenzie then lashed out and hit the 21-year old victim on the left side of his face with the bottle.

Mr Fraser added:“When the accused was cautioned and charged he said‘it wasn’t me’.”

The victim suffered redness and swelling to his cheekbone but was not cut.

The incident, which was described as an unprovoked attack, was captured on CCTV.

Frazer McCready, defending, said:“It’s a nasty offence. “He lost self-control. “The irony is that he was out drinking because he was off of work as a result of a nasty wound he had suffered himself.

“He had been drinking heavily and had left the nightclub with the bottle. He accepts that he lashed out.

“We have a very remorseful young man who said to me straight away that he couldn’t believe that he had done this.”

MacKenzie was placed on a community payback order.

Sheriff William Gilchrist told him: “This is the sort of offence that could bring about a custodial sentence.

“If you don’t comply with this order you will be brought back to court and resentenced appropriately.”

Mackenzie was ordered to do 170 hours of unpaid work and put under supervision for six months. He will also have pay £300 compensation.