Row led to punch which felled victim

An argument which began in a Stirling city centre takeaway resulted in man lying on the ground outside unconscious with blood around his head.

Victim Hugh McGowan was struck during an altercation which also involved his partner, a Ms White, and two brothers outside Taste Budz in Maxwell Place.

Accused, 28-year-old Cameron Rettie, last month admitted assaulting McGowan to his injury under provocation on Sunday, May 13, 2018.

He punched McGowan on the head causing him to fall to the ground, rendering him unconscious.

Fiscal depute Ashley Smith told Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday that McGowan and his girlfriend named White were inside Taste Budz when the accused Cameron Rettie and his brother James entered at 10.30pm.

However, an argument started between White and the accused “for an unknown reason”, Ms Smith said.

Still arguing, White and Cameron Rettie left the takeaway and went into Maxwell Place. White struck the accused on the face and repeatedly kicked him on the leg.

The attack lasted around six minutes, added Ms Smith, and James Rettie tried to intervene. Police were also alerted and CCTV deployed.

At one point Cameron Rettie swung a punch, but it was not known if it was aimed at White or McGowan. However, it connected with McGowan resulting in him falling to the ground with a pool of blood around him. Officers arrived at 11.35pm and when Rettie was cautioned and charged he replied: ‘self defence.’

His agent Virgil Crawford told Sheriff William Gilchrist that White and McGowan had been arguing with Taste Budz staff about a variety of matters. Cameron Rettie felt their behaviour had been inappropriate.

McGowan and White however told Rettie that it was nothing to do with him. Mr Crawford described McGowan’s six minute assault on his client as intermittent. During that time Rettie, the solicitor explained, had been trying to explain his position to White to get her to calm down.

Mr Crawford pointed out that McGowan was no stranger to the courts, and he and White had failed to engage with the investigation and trial.

He pointed out that Rettie waited for the police and ambulance to arrive that night as he wished to make sure McGowan was alright.

McGowan had sustained a one-inch cut to the back of his head which has left a scar.

Mr Crawford pointed out that Mr Rettie appeared as a first offender, stressing that the offence had been committed under provocation.

Sheriff Gilchrist told Rettie, of Alexander Way, Tillicoultry, that he should not have retaliated and fined him £200 with three months to pay.