Forfar man admits attacking lottery winner in pub brawl

sheriff court: Sentence deferred for background report on offender

An Angus man has admitted assaulting a £10 million lottery winner during a pub brawl.

Marshall Baer from Forfar attacked John Bowman, who scooped the huge National Lottery jackpot last April, at a town pub on January 8.

Baer first assaulted Kirsty Skinner by pushing her on the body in the Burns Bar.

He then grabbed Mr Bowman, pulled him to the ground and punched him on the head.

The 61-year-old pled guilty to two charges of assault before his trial at Forfar Sheriff Court, after an initial claim of self-defence was dropped.

Defence solicitor Craig Scott told the court Baer was changing his plea.

He said: “I had hoped to discuss the possibility of dealing with this matter today.”

However, Sheriff Kevin Veal said he required a social work background report before the case could be dealt with.

Under summary procedure, Baer could face up to a year in jail or be given a community-based sentence when he appears again next month.

Sheriff Veal said: “I will adjourn for a criminal justice social work report.

“I note from his previous convictions that he has two for assault, albeit one was dealt with by a fiscal fine. “The court requires a report.” The court will hear the full circumstances of the case at the later sentencing hearing.

Baer, of Archies Park, pled not guilty to a charge of careless driving on the Dunnichen Road on the same date, crashing through a wall and injuring himself, which was accepted by the Crown.

He declined to comment as he left court.

Mr Bowman had attended to give evidence but left the building without making comment.

The Forfar father of two, 59, also known as Jake, scooped a £10.3m jackpot on the National Lottery.

He celebrated with a pint in his local pub before being unveiled as the winner at a press conference at a five-star Glasgow hotel days later.

Mr Bowman, a former St Johnstone FC youth player, said: “I checked my numbers in the house on Sunday morning and thought I’d been lucky enough to win £10,000.

“I went over to a friend’s so he could double check it for me and when he looked it up on his phone he realised it was actually 1,000 times that amount.”

I note from his previous convictions that he has two for assault, albeit one was dealt with by a fiscal fine. SHERIFF KEVIN VEAL