Assault outside pub over ‘vulgar’ remark

Two men attacked a drunk man outside Stirling’s Peaky Blinders pub over a‘vulgar remark’made about a woman.

Charles Dawson (45), of Moss Road, Tillicoultry, and 18-year-old Ryan Dawson, of The Tannery, Tullibody, both admitted a charge of assaulting Paul Oliver to his injury at the Barnton Street pub on October 5, 2019.

The fiscal depute told Stirling Sheriff Court last Wednesday that a witness was working in the bar at 5.30pm that day.

Oliver was inside the pub drinking. However, the member of staff told Oliver that due to his level of intoxication he was not going to be served any more booze.

The depute fiscal said Oliver had been described as dancing in the pub, banging into patrons, and making cheeky remarks to customers.

About 6.45pm Oliver exited the pub to vape. While outside he was assaulted in Barnton Street.

CCTV footage showed that Ryan Dawson pushed Oliver who fell on the ground and got back up.

At that point Ryan Dawson punched Oliver to the head and kicked him on the body.

Charles Dawson then struck Oliver, the fiscal depute said, to the side of the head which caused him to fall to the ground hitting his head off the pavement.

Ryan Dawson kicked Oliver on the body before both accused made off.

They were later traced by police. When Charles Dawson was cautioned and charged he replied:‘He was very very vulgar to my partner. I regret it.’Ryan Dawson made no reply to caution and charge.

Oliver’s injuries included a cut above his left eye which required five stitches, bruising to the right side of his head and a graze to the back of his head.

Charles Dawson’s lawyer Harry Couchlin told Sheriff Wyllie Robertson his client had punched Oliver once, adding;“There was a sexual remark made by the complainer to my client’s wife which caused considerable offence.”

Mr Couchlin pointed out that Charles Dawson had no similar previous convictions. According to the social work report, he added, there was“minimum risk of reoffending.”

The attack had been“spur of the moment”and“out of character.”

Charles Dawson was in gainful employment and cared for his partner who had mental health issues. He generally took home £730 per week and was in a position to pay a fine.

Ryan Dawson’s lawyer Lisa McGuigan told the court her client accepted his responsibility in the matter and was remorseful.

He worked for a landscaping firm and could also pay a fine. Since he finishes work at 4pm, he could carry out unpaid work.

Sheriff Robertson fined Charles Dawson £1200 reduced from £1500 due to the timing of his guilty plea, payable at a rate of £300 per month.

Ryan Dawson was placed on a community payback order as an alternative to custody, which required him to undergo 12 months’supervision and carry out 100 hours’unpaid work within six months.