A young Shetland man almost died after violence flared as two groups of friends traded insults about Rangers and Celtic.
A court heard that Liam Cromwell’s victim was left physically and mentally disabled and would need care for the rest of his life.
He needed emergency surgery at the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick and was then airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and has been in hospital ever since.
Yesterday, 22-year-old Cromwell admitted assaulting his victim to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and the danger of his life.
He also admitted that the attack at Commercial Street and Burns Walk in Lerwick on 13 August last year was aggravated by religious prejudice.
Fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told Lerwick Sheriff Court that the tragic consequences of the assault resulted from the sort of incident “we see all too often at this court” with young men getting involved in low-level violence and having no control over the outcome.
He added: “It exemplifies the stupidity and futility of such conduct and certainly exemplifies the desperate consequences that can follow.”
On the night in question two groups of friends were exchanging insults over “two large Glasgow football teams”.
The court heard that it was Cromwell’s victim who had lashed out at him first.
The fiscal said Cromwell “simply did not have the maturity to walk away, his pride was slighted so he had to respond in kind”.
His victim stumbled, fell forward and hit the ground with “a significant degree of force” and without putting his hands out to break the fall.
Mr Mackenzie said the victim may have been unconscious before he hit the ground.
But the “catastrophic” consequences were as a result of the impact with the ground rather than the force of the punch thrown by Cromwell.
Cromwell, who gave a bail address of 61 Kingfisher Drive, Inverurie, initially ran away from the scene but handed himself in to police shortly afterwards.
His agent, solicitor Ian Warburton, told the court that Cromwell and his family were horrified by the consequences of his actions.
He asked Sheriff Philip Mann for bail to be continued and the condition for him to stay away from Shetland – apart from court appearances – to be lifted.
The sheriff deferred sentence for reports until September 18 and warned Cromwell there was a very “high possibility” that he would be sent to jail.
The sheriff said the offence highlighted “the stupidity” of becoming involved in violence over two football teams based far away from his jurisdiction.
He added: “This is a very serious charge you are facing, not because of the force used, but because of the tragic and life-changing consequences of that blow.”