A man has been jailed for carrying out an unprovoked attack on an Aberdeen bin man.
David McEwen was locked up for six months yesterday after he admitted assaulting Steven Reid at The Green on Thursday lunchtime.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard the 29-year-old had been extremely drunk when he approached Mr Reid at around 12.20pm.
Fiscal depute Karen Dow said that McEwen originally started to shout “derogatory comments” at his victim before he kicked over his work cart.
He then grabbed hold of Mr Reid’s face before digging his fingernails into his skin.
Ms Dow said Mr Reid tried to push him away with his litter picker but McEwen then grabbed hold of his victim’s clothes before swinging him round in a circle causing him to fall to the ground.
The court heard McEwen then left the scene and was later traced by police near Union Square.
McEwen also admitted causing fear and alarm while he was in the area of the bus and train station that afternoon.
The court heard he had been seen by witnesses taking some of his clothes off before he lay down on the floor of the bus station. A short while later he got up and headed towards the train station where he repeatedly “lunged” at passersby.
Solicitor David Sutherland urged Sherif Noel McPartlin to consider a community service for his client, who was described as a homeless alcoholic.
Mr Sutherland said that although his client had a “significant record” it contained very few crimes of violence.
He said his client would normally commit dishonest crimes and was not normally aggressive.
However Sheriff McPartlin said that the assault on Mr Reid was “extremely serious” and that, given his record, no other “sensible alternative” could be imposed to a prison sentence.