An Oban man who headbutted his victim in the street then kicked him on the head when he fell, knocking him unconscious, has been told jail is “a realistic option”.
Gary McIvor, 31, of Ulva Road, appeared at Oban Sheriff Court yesterday.
He pleaded guilty to carrying out the attack on Christopher Tolmie in Stevenson Street, Oban, on August 22, to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
Mr Tolmie was unconscious for several minutes following the assault and required four stitches to a cut on his head, the court heard.
Fiscal Eoin McGinty said: “It was into the early hours of a Monday morning. The complainer and his friend had been to The Lorne Bar. He was making his way back towards George Street and is noted as being extremely intoxicated.
“During the course of his walk he kicked over a traffic sign and two men, one being the accused, remonstrated with him. He replied with words to the effect of ‘who do you think you are speaking to?’.
“He and his friend continued walking on the right hand side of Stevenson Street and the accused and his friend walked on the other side of the road and there wasn’t any further interaction between them.”
However at the end of the street McIvor ran across the road and head-butted Mr Tolmie.
Mr McGinty said: “As a result the complainer fell to the ground and ended up on all fours. The accused then kicked him on the head. That rendered him unconscious and the accused and his friend walked away.”
The incident was captured on CCTV and police went to the scene. Meanwhile Mr Tolmie’s girlfriend arrived and called the emergency services.
Mr McGinty said: “He eventually began to regain consciousness as the paramedics arrived.”
Mr Tolmie was kept in hospital overnight for observations.
Mr McGinty added: “There is no suggestion the complainer and the accused knew each other, I believe the accused was identified by someone at the scene.”
Sheriff Ruth Anderson deferred sentence until January 30 for background reports. She told McIvor: “You should be under no illusion, clearly a custodial sentence is a realistic option, subject to anything I may hear on the next occasion you appear in court.”