Man attacked own cousin with hammer

A48-year-old man has been ordered to pay £500 as compensation to his cousin after hitting him with a hammer in a row over a woman.

Police found William Winters covered in blood and sitting on a sofa, as his cousin Laurence Winters lay prone on the floor beside.

Perth Sheriff Court heard Winters smashed his cousin on the head with the hammer after arguing about his victim’s on-off girlfriend.

Fiscal depute Sarah Wilkinson told the court: “At 10pm the police were called to attend by the ambulance service because of an ongoing assault.

“They traced the accused and complainer in the living room. Laurence Winters was lying on his back on the ground with blood on his hands and head.

“The accused was sat on the couch with bloodstains on his top and trousers.”

The accused, she said, had admitted hitting him with the hammer.

“The complainer told police: ‘You know who hit me. He hit me. It was over an ex-partner.’”

The court was told the victim was taken to hospital and had to be treated for the cut on his head which required to be glued.

Winters, of Grampian Court, Perth, admitted assaulting and injuring Laurence Winters, 49, at his home on July 30, 2019 by hitting him on the head with a hammer.

Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, said: “He and Mr Winters are cousins and they both suffer from some alcohol addiction issues.

“Laurence Winters has a partner, Dawn Dewar, that he falls out with every so often and they cannot stay together for periods.

“On this occasion she went to stay with William Winters. History doesn’t record for us anything else that might have happened.”

Sheriff Neil Bowie said: “Any assault on another with a weapon such as a hammer is extremely serious.

“Clearly this was an argument that was instigated due to the heavy intoxication of all the parties. You hit your cousin and he is extremely fortunate only to have minor injuries.”

He told Winters he was “only just persuaded” not to send him to jail and instead sentenced him to 18 months supervision and alcohol treatment.

William Winters.