A pub attacker whose unprovoked assault left a man unconscious and seriously injured dragged his victim outside the bar and left him in the recovery position.
Dad-of-two Richard Alsop, 37, threw the pub-goer to the ground at Cheerz Bar in Aberdeen with such force he suffered a collapsed lung and broke his collarbone.
The mechanic’s solicitor described his actions as “totally out of character”.
Fiscal depute Andrew McMann told the court that at around 9.40pm on May 26 2019 the complainer and Alsop had spoken briefly in Cheerz Bar but did not know each other.
“The man then walked away from the accused and began speaking to another group of people.”
The man asked the group if they would buy him a drink, which they refused, and it was then that Alsop grabbed him.
Mr McMann said: “The accused approached the complainer from behind, seized him by the shoulders and threw him to the floor, causing his head to strike the floor, rendering him unconscious.
“As he remained unconscious on the floor, the accused dragged him out of the bar and put him in the recovery position outside.
“The accused then returned to the locus for a short while before leaving.”
The fiscal depute added that as a result of the assault, Alsop’s victim suffered a collapsed left lung, blood collected between his chest wall and his lungs, a fractured left clavicle and a 2cm laceration to the left side of his head, which required to be glued.
He also suffered superficial abrasions to his face.
Alsop pleaded guilty to one charge of assault by throwing a man to the floor causing him to strike his head and lose consciousness.
‘He is embarrassed by his actions’
Defence agent David Patterson told the court there was a disagreement between the complainer and his friend and that it was he who was initially being aggressive.
He said: “Mr Alsop knows this wasn’t his finest hour and it weighs heavily on his mind.
“He is genuinely remorseful and he accepts that his conduct was unacceptable.
“He also wants to apologise to the complainer and does want to convey to him that he is embarrassed by his actions.
“He seems to be a man who has learned his lesson.”
Sheriff Lesley Johnston told Alsop that she was glad he “recognises how serious this is and the severe injuries to the complainer”.
She added: “You rendered him unconscious and thankfully there weren’t any more serious consequences for the complainer.
“This was a matter that could have resulted in a custodial sentence being imposed.”
Sheriff Johnston sentenced Alsop, of Drumossie Avenue, Inverness, to a community payback order with 180 hours of unpaid work.
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