Assault victim due £1k compensation

An offshore worker who left a man scarred for life during a brawl at a family birthday party has been ordered to pay one of his victims £1,000.

Dean Calder, 31, carried out unprovoked attacks on two cousins and left Stuart Whyte with a pair of visible scars during the bust-up.

Calder and other family members were celebrating his brother Darryn Calder’s birthday when the evening descended into violence.

Several people were involved in the fracas in Dickens Bar in Perth which was sparked by Calder lashing out.

Calder admitted causing permanent disfigurement to Stuart Whyte by punching and injuring him in the bar on January 27 2018.

He also admitted repeatedly punching Scott Whyte on the head.

Fiscal depute Gail Russell told Perth Sheriff Court that the bar was busy and CCTV showed Dean Calder talking to Scott Whyte at the bar before the attack.

“Mr Calder turned his head away and then, completely without warning, forcibly punched Scott on the face, forcing him backwards. It’s clear from the video he wasn’t expecting this.

“Numerous patrons intervened and pulled Dean Calder away,” she added.

“During this, it appears that a melee erupted in the pub.”

Scott Whyte was taken outside by his cousin, Stuart Whyte, as staff tried to calm the accused down, the court heard.

Stuart Whyte returned to the bar and was standing talking to a friend when Calder appeared to remonstrate with him.

Without warning, the accused punched him on the face. Calder then repeatedly attempted to punch his victim again but was “pushed and pulled away by a female and other patrons”.

Stuart Whyte, who had injuries to his face and head, was taken to Perth Royal Infirmary, where medics assessed that he would have two visible scars.

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: “My client was out with a birthday group and certainly wasn’t seeking trouble.

“He describes his own behaviour as stupid and unnecessary and he is genuinely sorry for what has taken place.”

The court heard the bar’s CCTV showed there had been an exchange between the parties and a bottle had been thrown by someone.

Sheriff William Wood ordered Calder, from Perth, to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to custody and imposed a £1,000 compensation order in favour of Stuart Whyte.