Prisoner found not proven by court

Dozens of spectators looked on during a brawl in a Coltness street, a court heard this week.

As a result of the incident 30-year-old Stewart Campbell ended up in the dock.

It was alleged that he and unnamed accomplices assaulted Craig Sheridan in Maxton Crescent on July 17.

But a jury found the charge not proven after trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

Campbell, a prisoner, was found not guilty of threatening or abusive behaviour and possessing a knife.

It had been claimed that Mr Sheridan was knocked to the ground then punched and kicked repeatedly on the head and body.

Campbell was also accused of throwing a bottle and sticking a knife through the letterbox of a flat.

The court heard it was estimated that more than 30 people were watching as a“square go”took place outside a block of flats around 11pm.

Campbell told his lawyer, Andy Brophy, that Mr Sheridan, whom he’d known all of his life, had hit him with a large stick for no apparent reason.

Campbell said his cousin then challenged Mr Sheridan to leave his flat for a fight.

The accused claimed those two did square up to each other, but the fight didn’t last long and they went their separate ways.

He told Mr Brophy:“I just walked towards my father’s house.”

Campbell described as “completely untrue” evidence that he ran towards the door of a flat and stuck a knife through the letterbox.

He added:“There were no weapons used – no knife and no bottle.”

Campbell had spent six months in custody awaiting trial, having been refused bail on account of his record for violent offending.