A man has been ordered to pay compensation to a beggar after he brutally attacked him outside a fast food restaurant.
Stuart McDonald, 24, had been out drinking in Aberdeen on June 25 when he and his friend Grant Meiklejohn entered the Burger King outlet on Union Street.
As the pair left the restaurant around 11.15pm McDonald approached Daniel Vence, who was sitting on the ground begging outside.
After sitting down beside Mr Vence and talking to him briefly McDonald got up and – without provocation – kicked the beggar in the face.
Meanwhile Meiklejohn, 25, assaulted another man, Marc Anderson.
He pushed him to the ground and repeatedly punched him on the head and body.
Yesterday the duo appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court for sentence after admitting the vicious attacks.
The court heard the men had been out socialising before the assaults took place.
Representing McDonald, solicitor Mike Monro said his client was fully aware he had committed an offence which would normally attract a custodial sentence.
Sheriff Alison Stirling told Meiklejohn, of Cairnhill, Newtonhill, and McDonald, of Margaret Street, Stonehaven, that their actions had been “despicable”.
She said: “You both pled guilty to separate charges and your circumstances are both different. They are both shocking incidents which should never have taken place.”
The sheriff said that given the fact both had previous convictions for assault she had to treat the matter more seriously.
McDonald was ordered to carry out 70 hours of unpaid work and placed under supervision for nine months.
He was also ordered to pay Mr Vence £500 in compensation.
Meiklejohn was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work within the next nine months.