Thug stamped on his victim’s head six times
A Cambus thug high on drink and street valium stamped on a man’s head six times as his victim lay unconscious from a fall and punched his victim nine times while he was already out cold.
Kenneth Bridges, 22, known as Kenni, was told last week by Sheriff John Mundy that he was lucky not to have killed his victim.
The sickening assault was captured on CCTV at a social housing scheme in Tullibody.
Falkirk Sheriff Court was told the footage showed victim Scott Burns – the boyfriend of Bridges’ sister Elle Bridges – falling on his back in the street in Talisker, Tullibody, after a “remonstration” in which Miss Bridges had been seen trying to get Burns away from her brother.
Prosecutor Ruaraidh Ferguson said all three people involved were “clearly under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs” and after Mr Burns fell on his back on the road, Miss Bridges stumbled and fell on her front.
Talking through the CCTV footage, which was played in court, Mr Ferguson said: “After this, both persons do not move, and appear to be unconscious.
“Immediately the accused runs over and attacks Mr Burns, 29, who is lying unresponsive, defenceless and motionless on his back.
“He leans over Burns and using his right hand, punches him five times. He then rises to his feet and proceeds to stamp on his head three times.
He then drags Mr Burns’ motionless body away from his sister, and then leans over him once more, punching him a further four times to the head and again rises to his feet and stamps on his head three more times.”
Police received five anonymous calls reporting the “ongoing assault”, and at one point Bridges is seen kicking a parked car before picking up and swinging a small child’s scooter at the first floor window of a nearby house – just missing the glass – and making gestures at the window.
The court heard that police who rushed to scene found Bridges trying to pull the still-unconscious Mr Burns to his feet.
Bridges told police the injuries to Mr Burns were as a result of him falling.
Mr Burns was taken to hospital with head injuries, but discharged himself after doctors ordered a brain scan. He later said he had “freaked” after doctors mentioned the procedure.
Bridges, of Cambus, pleaded guilty to assaulting Burns to his injury in the incident on March 18 this year, and using threatening and abusive behaviour.
Paul Smith, defending, said Bridges, an unemployed father-of-one, had “no recollection” of the incident and had been under the influence of both Valium and alcohol.
He said the accused had instructed pleas of guilty should be tendered as soon as he was shown the CCTV.
Mr Smith said: “He said he had no desire to see the CCTV again, because he is disgusted at his behaviour.”
Sheriff John Mundy jailed Bridges for 27 months, and ordered him to be subject to 12 months’ social work supervision on his release.
He said: “This was dreadful behaviour. Mr Burns might have died, quite easily. The fact that he didn’t sustain more serious injuries than he did was simply a matter of good fortune.”
Bridges showed no emotion as he was handcuffed to a security guard and led to the cells.