Man jailed for ‘brutal’ assault on court staff

Abank worker has been jailed for a “brutal and sustained” attack on two court officials in Perth.

Connor Rogers, 26, flew into a rage and battered both men following a mix-up at a Glasgow Road taxi rank.

He beat one man as he knelt on the road and went back and forth to the second victim three times, delivering up to 14 blows to his face.

Rogers appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted the double assault on June 2, when his two victims – both Crown Office workers in Tayside – were on a night out.

He initially denied returning to the second victim but backtracked after watching CCTV footage.

“I left and came back to engage again,” he admitted. “That’s not normal behaviour on my part.”

Representing himself, he suggested the court could send him on an anger management course but Sheriff Rory Bannerman told him there was no alternative to prison.

“This was a brutal, sustained and repeated attack upon two entirely blameless members of the public,” the sheriff said.

“As you rained down blows to the first victim five or six times while he knelt on the ground, it was clear you were unconcerned about the potential consequences.”

He said: “The second victim was assaulted on three separate occasions.

“You returned to him twice and delivered 13 to 14 punches as well as a knee to the face.

“You are extremely fortunate that this case is not calling at a higher court.”

The sheriff noted Rogers had received a community sentence for a previous assault.

Rogers, of Primrose Crescent, Perth, was jailed for six months.

Fiscal depute Sarah High told the court: “At around 10pm, the two complainers were waiting for a taxi on Glasgow Road.

“A short time later, a taxi pulled up and they got into the vehicle.

“As they did so, they became aware of a group of men walking towards the taxi rank.”

Rogers approached the cab and explained he had pre-booked it.

“As soon as this became apparent, the two complainers exited the vehicle.

“The first complainer has little recollection of what occurred next but remembered falling to the floor.

“He believes he was knocked unconscious and when he came to, he saw the second complainer bleeding from the face.”

The prosecutor said the second victim heard “raised voices” from his colleague’s side of the taxi.

“He walked round and saw the first complainer lying on the road,” Ms High told the court.

“As he went to help, he became aware of blows to his face. His nose was bleeding.

“He became involved in a scuffle with the accused.

“It ended with the accused walking away north along Glasgow Road.”

The fiscal depute said a passing motorist saw the first complainer kneeling on the carriageway while

Rogers repeatedly punched the other man.

“The driver stopped to assist and conveyed the second complainer to Ninewells Hospital for treatment.

“He had concussion and suffered cuts to both eyes, his lips and his forehead.”

Ms High said police were contacted and traced the first complainer.

“He also attended at Ninewells and was diagnosed with concussion,” the fiscal depute said.

Rogers, an operations analyst for a bank, admitted a “flurry” of punches to both men.

“The reason why this erratic behaviour happened was a build-up of stuff that happened at home,” he said.

“That has been sorted out now and I’m not going out drinking any more.”

LOCKED UP: Connor Rogers left one of his victims with concussion – and was jailed after asking to be sent on an anger management course.