Thug smashed Buckie bottle on man’s head

Jun 26 2008 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

A THUG smashed a Buckfast bottle on a man’s head during a street fight in a residential area of Bellshill.

Nineteen-year-old Brian Stevenson this week admitted carrying out the attack on James Mullen in Stewart Street on May 29 last year.

Fiscal-depute Rebecca Scully told Hamilton Sheriff Court on Monday the accused was in his Stewart Street home at about 11pm on the night of the incident. He was with members of his family.

A commotion could be heard in the street outside.

Stevenson’s mother looked out of the window and saw her nephew involved in a confrontation with other youths.

She went outside with Stevenson’s father in an effort to calm the situation down, Ms Scully explained.

Mr Mullen and his wife, who had also seen the commotion, were also at the scene.

They had recognised a number of youths involved in the fracas and were also trying to calm things down.

Ms Scully said a short time later Stevenson was seen coming out of his house with a Buckfast bottle.

On seeing Mr Mullen, Stevenson approached him and struck him on the left ear with the bottle, causing it to smash.

Mr Mullen and the accused struggled, fell, and rolled around on the ground.

However, witnesses managed to pull the victim and the accused apart and the police were called.

Mullen was taken to Monklands Hospital and treated for a quarter-inch cut to the top of his left ear.

He also sustained two superficial wounds to his right lower eye area, which did not require treatment. A two-inch cut to Mr Mullen’s lower back required six stitches.

When Stevenson was interviewed by police he admitted being in a fight with James Mullen.

Stevenson had originally been charged with assaulting Mr Mullen by repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body – attempting to strike him on the head and body with a bottle – and repeatedly striking him on the head and body with a bottle, all to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

However, his not guilty plea to a reduced charge, whose amendments made no mention of severe injury or permanent disfigurement, was accepted by the Crown.

Stevenson’s not guilty plea to assaulting Charlotte Mullen by pushing her against a car, and attempting to strike her with a Buckfast bottle, was also accepted by the Crown.

Stevenson’s lawyer Diarmid Bruce pointed out to Sheriff Vincent Smith that “very significant” amendments had been made to the charges.

The sheriff told Stevenson that in view of his age he would call for reports.

Sentence was deferred until July 17 and bail was continued.