A violent racist who hurled vile abuse at a stranger and repeatedly struck him on the street can barely remember the attack, a court has heard.
Ryan Gray singled out the man, who had been out for a Saturday night pint on Belmont Street in Aberdeen, and called him a “f****** foreigner” and a “dirty P***”.
The 27-year-old repeatedly struck his victim’s head and body on Holburn Street, at around 11.30pm on July 9 last year.
Gray’s defence solicitor told Aberdeen Sheriff Court that her client’s recollection of events was “somewhat confused”.
He had been taking prescription and controlled drugs to cope with “chronic pain” at the time, she told the court.
Hurled racist abuse at stranger
Fiscal depute Lydia Ross said: “The complainer left the premises and was walking on Holburn Street when he saw the accused on the opposite side of the road.
“He didn’t acknowledge him and assumed he was intoxicated”.
Gray shouted across the road at the man: “Hey you, why are you calling my name like that?” He also called his victim a “dirty P***”.
Miss Ross added: “He then saw the accused crossing the road towards him and then running at him, before putting his hands up and striking him on the shoulder, head and upper back repeatedly.
“The complainer told him to stop and put his hands up to defend himself, however, the accused continued to assault him – swinging his arms and striking him to the upper body as the complainer tried to get away.”
When Gray’s victim finally freed himself, Gray shouted after him, calling the stranger a “f****** P***” and a “f****** foreigner”.
The crime was reported to the police the following day and Gray later admitted a charge of racially-aggravated assault.
His defence agent Lynn Bentley said her client’s recollection of events was “somewhat confused”.
He was on both prescription and controlled drugs at the time in an attempt to deal with “chronic pain” for which he is signed off work, she explained.
‘You are on a different trajectory’
Sheriff Margaret Hodge told Gray: “I do have concerns because this was an unprovoked attack on a stranger.
“However, I note that you have not offended since then, you have nothing outstanding in court and you have complied with a fairly onerous curfew for these past few months.
“It does appear now, you are on a different trajectory and are making different choices with your life.”
She handed Gray, of Ash-Hill Drive, Aberdeen, a structured deferred sentence for six months to allow him to prove that he can behave himself.
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