Threemenfacejailfor assaultonprofessional footballeroutsidepub

Lee Sibanda and his friend were watching the Scottish Cup semi-final

Three men who left a professional footballer unconscious in the middle of the road following a brutal street assault were jailed yesterday.

Jason Henderson and Lee Sibanda had gone to a pub in Cupar, Fife, to watch the Scottish Cup semi-final between Rangers and Celtic, which Rangers won on penalties, on April 17 last year.

Colin Ewen and Graeme Duncan from Cupar, with Ross Kelly from Perth, then turned up at the same pub where, later in the evening an argument broke out.

The three men were thrown out of the pub, but minutes later, when Mr Henderson and Mr Sibanda left, a brawl broke out that left both victims lying unconscious on the ground.

Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson told Dundee Sheriff Court: “Mr Sibanda was grabbed and they fell to the ground, leaving him unconscious.

“Accused Kelly then strikes Mr Henderson to the head, knocking him unconscious. Mr Ewen then kicks him once on the head.

“All three accused then run off and the two men are left lying unconscious on the ground.”

Ewen, 34, of Orchardgate, Cupar, Kelly, 27, of Shielhill Place, Perth, and Duncan, 32, of Tarvit Terrace, Cupar, all pleaded guilty on indictment to charges of assault to injury.

Solicitor Katrina Clark, for Ewen, said: “He’s aware the sentence may ultimately be imprisonment.”

Lawyers for Kelly and Ewen said they would give full pleas in mitigation at a later sentencing date.

Sheriff Alastair Brown deferred sentence until next month for social work background reports.

He remanded the three men in custody meantime.

Lee Sibanda is a former professional football player who played for Arbroath and Cowdenbeath in the Scottish lower leagues.

He is now player-manager for Cupar Hearts AFC.

He’s aware the sentence may ultimately be imprisonment