Attack thug is jailed for 18 months

An 18-year-old thug has been jailed for a year-and-a-half after kicking a new dad so hard that he left a footprint on his face.

We told you earlier this month how Paul Quinn, a prisoner, and Ben Bryden, of East Kilbride, admitted assaulting a man at the Olympia Shopping Centre car park on March 8.

Appearing at Hamilton Sheriff Court last week, Quinn was jailed for 18-months, with Sheriff David Bickett saying“you have a record of offending with violence”.

Court heard how 18-year-old Quinn stamped on his victim whilst he was on the ground – he also admitted brandishing a knife and threatening witnesses who went to help the victim.

Fiscal depute Liza Lann told the court how the victim and his girlfriend were in the car park about 11.30pm when the two accused ran towards them.

She told the court:“Bryden immediately pushed the complainer against a pillar and both accused then played a part as he was thrown to the ground, punched and kicked repeatedly on the head and body, and dragged about.

“Quinn appeared to walk away, but was seen to turn back, stamp on the victim’s face then try to stamp on him again.

“He approached witnesses who were checking that the complainer was okay and pulled out a knife with a blade of five to six inches.

“Brandishing this, he said‘I’ll take on every single one of you. Do want a fight?’Quinn was jabbing the knife in a stabbing motion before walking off.”

In his plea of mitigation Quinn’s defence solicitor told the court his client had been drinking with Bryden and“words seemed to have been exchanged”with the victim.

But his client“accepted that his actions were totally unacceptable”and that the knife he was carrying“should not have been in his possession”.

Quinn’s lawyer said a‘diagnosis of Asperger’s and ADHD’had contributed to him getting“caught up with others and making bad decisions”.

Remarkably their victim told the News that he thought the sentence was“a hefty amount”and that he did not wish for someone to go to jail for the assault.

He added:“It was out of my hands by the time it got to court.

“It will be hard for him in jail, but if this is what the procurator fiscal and courts think is necessary, then I can’t argue with that.”

Sheriff Bickett told Quinn that he had no choice but to deal with the charge of possession of a knife“than with a custodial sentence due to your record and the seriousness of the matter”.

Co -accused Bryden failed to appear for preparation of reports and was given“one final chance”to attend or be remanded for the matter to be dealt with. He will return to court August 29.