A man has been jailed for bottling a friend twice after a drinking session at a property in Aberdeen.
James Summers had joined a group of acquaintances and was consuming a “significant amount of alcohol” when an argument broke out.
The 51-year-old then suddenly began hitting his victim over the head repeatedly with a glass vodka bottle, causing it to smash.
Despite his victim bleeding profusely and trying to leave, Summers went after him and struck him again with a second bottle, which also smashed.
‘History of difficulties with alcohol’
Fiscal depute David Ballock told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the complainer and a friend visited his ex-partner’s home on Mastrick Drive, Aberdeen, on February 19.
Mr Ballock said: “They spent the afternoon and evening together consuming a significant amount of alcohol.
“At around 9pm that evening, the accused arrived and sat with the group, also consuming alcohol.
“He and the complainer began to argue, and the accused suddenly struck him repeatedly on the head with a glass vodka bottle, which smashed.”
The court heard the man’s head “began to bleed profusely” and he tried to leave but was followed by Summers who continued to hit him.
Mr Ballock said: “As the complainer left via the back door, the accused again struck him to the head with what appeared to be another bottle, which also smashed.”
The man then managed to escape onto the street where a member of the public saw his injuries and called 999.
He was taken to hospital where he needed three stitches to close a one-inch laceration to the back of his head.
‘There had been a drinking session with all parties’
When police arrived, they traced Summers inside the address with “blood on his hands”.
Summers, of HMP Grampian, pled guilty to assault to severe injury.
Defence agent Leonard Burkinshaw said his client had a “history of difficulties with alcohol”.
The solicitor explained Summers had sought help while in custody in relation to his issues but had had trouble accessing support.
Regarding the offence, he said: “The situation is he had been at that house prior to the assault and there had been a drinking session with all parties.
“There had been difficulties between the parties and the complainer had been making threats over a lengthy period of time and it got to the stage he reacted to this.
“He was extremely intoxicated at the time.”
Sheriff Graham Buchanan jailed him for 18 months.
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