Eight months in jail for man who fractured jaw

A 25-year-old man has been jailed for eight months after punching another man and fracturing his jaw in an ‘unprovoked’ attack.

Karl Boulger, a prisoner of HM Prison Low Moss, punched another man at Oban Railway Pier after consuming alcohol on February 27 of this year. He was sentenced at Oban Sheriff Court on Tuesday October 23 after pleading guilty.

Procurator fiscal Eoin McGinty said the victim was drinking with two friends, before Boulger joined them, though the two did not know each other. The punch took place after the friends had left.

The victim went home to bed, but woke up in ‘excruciating pain’. It was later revealed that he had a fractured jaw.

Mr McGinty added: ‘It would appear it was an unprovoked one punch on someone who was heavily intoxicated.’

Boulger’s solicitor, Kevin McGiness, said his client was trying to assist staff in refusing the victim alcohol.

Mr McGinnes said: ‘It’s [Boulger’s] position that in this exchange, [the victim] said do you want to take matters outside and he agreed to this.’

Mr McGiness said while his client was heading outside, he was hit by a bag, and that’s when the incident took place.

Sheriff Patrick Hughes reduced Boulger’s sentence to eight months from 12 to take into account his guilty plea.