Reveller’s eye socket broken following assault at taxi rank

The man had been at BBC’s Biggest Weekend before the city centre attack

A 26-year-old man who had attended BBC’s Biggest Weekend suffered a broken eye socket following an assault at a Perth taxi rank, police have revealed.

The male was part of a group of revellers who had attended the music event, which featured Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, when he was attacked, fell to the ground and was subsequently kicked in the face at the busy taxi rank in Mill Street during the early hours of May 27.

With the pain failing to subside, the man visited his GP on June 4 and two days later, went to Perth Royal Infirmary where medical staff told him he had a broken right eye socket.

Chief Inspector Ian Scott, area commander for Perth and Kinross, said the Biggest Weekend passed without much trouble at the Scone Palace venue itself but conceded there were some unsavoury incidents in Perth city centre, late at night, afterwards.

“We had a big challenge in terms of the number of people out in Perth city centre following the Biggest Weekend event,” he said.

“Generally speaking, the music event went well but a few assaults were reported after the event and in particular, a serious assault took place at the taxi rank in Mill Street.

“There was a group of people, aged between their late teens and early-20s, waiting in the taxi rank when there was a disturbance and a 26-year-old male was kicked on the head. He suffered a broken eye socket as a result.”

Mr Scott continued: “It wasn’t reported until June 8 as the male went to the doctors on June 4 and then hospital on June 6 when it was found he had sustained a broken right eye socket.

“Initially, he thought he just had a sore face.

“We’re appealing for any witnesses to contact us regarding this assault.”

BBC’s Biggest Weekend saw an estimated 20,000 people attend at the Scone Palace festival ground over May 26 and 27.

Anyone with information on the Mill Street assault should phone police on 101.

It wasn’t reported until June 8... Initially, he thought he just had a sore face. CHIEF INSPECTOR IAN SCOTT