The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pensioner smashed his head on road after unprovoked attack
COURT: Sentence deferred on teen who assaulted man, 80, in Dundee
A teenager shoved an 80-year-old man into the middle of a busy road – causing him to fall down and smash his head on the tarmac – a court heard yesterday.
Konrad Kapuscinski was on a night out in Dundee when he saw John Archibald shouting at door staff at the Trades Bar in the Nethergate.
Mr Archibald, who had earlier been drinking in the pub, was then seen to stagger across the road, which was busy with traffic.
In a “completely unprovoked” attack Kapuscinski walked over and shoved Mr Archibald to the ground in the middle of the street, causing him to strike his head on the road surface.
Depute fiscal Nicola Gillespie told Dundee Sheriff Court that the OAP was left “extremely upset and crying” by the assault.
She said: “The street was busy and several people rushed over to help.
“Door staff from the Trades Bar restrained the accused and held him until police arrived.
“Mr Archibald said he didn’t know the accused and didn’t see him coming.
“He was left with pain in his chest and right cheek as a result.”
Kapuscinski, 19, of Cupar, pled guilty on summary complaint to a charge of assault to injury committed on May 21.
Defence solicitor Douglas Williams said: “He is extremely remorseful for his involvement in this and the only explanation he can give for his intervention was that the man was ranting and raving at the door staff.
“The difficulty was he was staggering in the middle of the road and a car actually had to stop to avoid him.
“A girl tried to pull the man back but he shrugged her off and my client then intervened.
“He didn’t help the situation – he exacerbated it.”
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael deferred sentence for three months for Kapuscinski to be of good behaviour.
He said: “You are 19 years old and have no previous convictions.
“I take the view that this is out of character.
“I need you to prove that to me over this period.”