A thug who turned on his rescuers after he was attacked at T in the Park has been jailed for 220 days.
Violent offender John Hunter was attending the music festival with his partner when he was apparently set upon on July 14 this year. A roaring brawl was well under way in one of the camp sites when security staff attempted to intervene.
They broke up the fight, only for Hunter to his attention to victim Martin Payne.
The 27-year-old has a history of violence and has previously served periods in custody for assaults in which his victims were left seriously injured and disfigured.
Perth Sheriff Court heard that Hunter, of Lord Russell Place in Edinburgh, was subject to an unexpired portion of his last custodial sentence, imposed in 2011 in connection with a serious assault.
Depute fiscal John Malpass told the court: “Security staff had been alerted to an ongoing fight within the campsite.
“They separated the protagonists, only for the accused who knew full well that they were security staff as they were wearing clothing and caps that identified them as such to spit in Mr Payne’s face and then attempt to headbutt him.
“Fortunately, the peak of his baseball cap took the blow.”
Solicitor Fiona Cooper said her client and his partner had themselves been the victims of an “unprovoked assault” at the festival.
“It is Mr Hunter’s position that he was defending himself,” the agent said.
“He admits that he did not bring himself under control quickly enough and didn’t pay attention properly to who had put their hands on him.
“They were wearing identifying clothing but, in the heat of the moment, he just didn’t realise this and he very much regrets what happened.”
She asked the court to consider allowing her client to complete a community payback order and a number of hours of unpaid work.
Ms Cooper said: “He has a partner and a young child and does not want to spend any further time in custody.
“He has found his time in prison, away from his family in Edinburgh, to be very hard.”
Sheriff Fiona Tait was unmoved,however, telling Hunter that she was “not persuaded” there was any alternative to custody, given his criminal record and the nature of the offence.