Assault on OAP
A young east Perthshire man who attacked a pensioner as he collected his shopping has been spared a custodial sentence.
But Sheriff Lindsay Foulis warned 20 year-old Ross Adams: “You attacked a man who is 45 years older than you for very little reason.
“And you didn’t do it once – you did it repeatedly.
“If you continue to act in that way, you will ultimately lose your liberty.”
Adams, a groundworker, of Morrison Terrace, Alyth, was ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.
He will also be supervised by a social worker for a year after he admitted assaulting 65 year-old Allan Fleming by repeatedly punching him on the head, repeatedly kicking him on the body and repeatedly knocking him to the ground in Commercial Street, Alyth, on July 3, 2020.
Mr Fleming was initially punched and kicked by Adams outside a convenience store.
He fell to the ground, scattering the groceries he had been carrying, Perth Sheriff Court was told.
But as he picked them up and got back to his feet, Adams aimed more punches and kicks at him – and he collapsed again.
“The complainer got back to his feet again and gathered his goods before being punched, kicked and knocked to the ground by the accused for a third time,”stated depute fiscal Matthew Kerr.
The violent confrontation only ended when a friend of the accused pulled him away.
Adams then“walked off in the opposite direction to the complainer”.
The incident was captured on CCTV and the accused was later traced.
He reported to Blairgowrie police station almost a week later in response to a message which had been left for him.
Although no injuries had been sustained by the pensioner, another sheriff said he wanted more information on the accused in the aftermath of what was a “concerning”assault.
Mr Kerr said Mr Fleming and a friend had gone to the shops shortly before 9pm and they were outside smoking.
As the accused left the shop, he shouted a comment and the complainer replied:“Don’t you talk to me.”
Solicitor Paul Ralph said the accused had been drinking with a friend and believed there had been an argument in the pub with the victim earlier.
Adams was said to be willing to pay a fine and compensation.
But Sheriff Foulis said a background report didn’t make “great reading”.
He added:“The impression given is that you don’t really see what all the fuss is about, to some extent.
“You don’t have a significant record although it does indicate a tendency to violence.”
The accused’s previous conviction resulted in him being fined £600 at the Perth court in June, 2019, for behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
The following planning applications were validated by Perth and Kinross Council during the week ending February 15:
Erection of fences and gates (in retrospect) at 16 Douglas Road, Blairgowrie, for Lesley Gibbons;
Listed building consent for demolition of doo’cot at Polcalk Farm, Alyth, for George King;
Erection of a dwellinghouse and garage (approval of matters specified in conditions of 20/01262/ IPL) at land 60 metres north-east of Monks Acre, Monks Way, Bendochy, for Stephen Cooksley and Zoey McClellan;
Erection of a boathouse, jetty and associated works at Ach Na Creag, Fearnan, for Andy Lamond;
Erection of dwellinghouse and garage (revised design – change of house type) at land 30 metres northwest of Wester Dunidea, Kirkmichael, for Mr R Scott;
Erection of a garage at Downham Farm, Ardler, for Kenneth McKay;
S42 application to modify condition six (access upgrade) of permission 11/02044/FLL at land 520 metres north-west of Wellsies Farm, Whitelea Road, Burrelton, for Stuart Morris;
Extension to dwellinghouse at 9 Altamount Road, Blairgowrie, for Julian and Sandra Fryer;
Change of use and alterations to domestic outbuildings to form a holiday accommodation unit and associated works at Annfield, Station Road, Woodside, for Merle Boyd.