Get help ...or face prison
Counselling warning to brute who attacked friend
An alcoholic lout who sent his mate flying into a car in a brutal attack has been spared jail.
Frank Brown, 31, punched Mark Higgins sending him crashing into a parked vehicle outside Paisley’s Old Swan Inn.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard the pair had been drinking all day when they went outside and got into an argument.
Brown then punched Mr Higgins again when he got up to defend himself, landing another blow which knocked the victim unconscious and sent him sprawling to the ground.
And while lying knocked out on the ground, Brown struck for a third time – kicking Mr Higgins in the head.
Yesterday he appeared for sentencing after pleading guilty to assaulting his friend to injury and possession of Class-A cocaine during the attack which took place in November 2018.
P ro s e c u t o r D av i d McDonald said trouble flared between Brown, Mr Higgins and mutual friend Alison Campbell while they were in the Smithhills Street pub.
He explained: “At around 11.15pm, Mr Higgins and Miss Campbell went outside for a cigarette.
“Mr Brown was already outside where Mi s s Campbell and Mr Brown entered into a verbal argument. Mr Higgins also remonstrated with Mr Brown.
“Mr Brown punched Mr Higgins, causing him to fall into a car parked outside the pub and to the ground.
“Mr Higgins got to his feet and Mr Brown punched him again, causing him to fall to the ground and knocking him unconscious, and he then kicked Mr Higgins on the head.”
Defence agent Rhona Lynch said Brown’s raging drink problem lay at the root of his problems.
She said: “He describes himself as a ‘ functioning alcoholic.’
“There is a clear link between alcohol and his offending.
“He is also has problems with cocaine.
“However he lost his job as a result of this attack. His relationship with his girlfriend broke down. And he knows he only has himself to blame.
“The court could sent him to prison to mark the public disgust at this offence.
“But an alternative to custody could be imposed and he would be willing to comply with any requirements of a court order.”
Sheriff James Spy told Brown, from Paisley, he was imposing a Community Payback Order as an “alternative to custody.”
He handed him 300 hours of the unpaid work, the maximum amount, to be done in 12 months. He placed him under mandatory supervision of the local authority for 15 months, and ordered he attend both alcohol and drugs counselling.
He warned him: “Do this order or you will go to custody.”