A bank worker has been jailed for a “brutal and sustained” attack on two court officials in Perth.
Connor Rogers flew into a rage and battered both men following a mix-up at a Glasgow Road taxi rank.
The 26-year-old beat one man as he knelt on the road and went back to the second victim three times, delivering up to 14 blows to his face.
Rogers appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted the double assault on June 2, when his two victims – who both work for the Crown Office in Tayside – were on a night out.
He initially denied returning to the second victim but backtracked after watching CCTV footage.
“I left and came back to engage again,” he conceded.
“That’s not normal behaviour on my part.”
Representing himself, he suggested the court could send him on an anger management course but Sheriff Rory Bannerman told him there was no alternative to prison.
Unheeded warning
“This was a brutal, sustained and repeated attack upon two entirely blameless members of the public,” the sheriff said.
“As you rained down blows to the first victim five or six times while he knelt on the ground, it was clear you were unconcerned about the potential consequences.”
He said: “The second victim was assaulted on three separate occasions.
“You returned to him twice and delivered 13 to 14 punches as well as a knee to the face.
“You are extremely fortunate that this case is not calling at a higher court.”
The sheriff noted Rogers received a community sentence for a previous assault.
“It seems that that particular warning went unheeded.
“I conclude there is no alternative to custody and you must be sent to prison for this matter.”
Rogers, of Primrose Crescent, Perth, was jailed for six months.
Blows to the face
Fiscal depute Sarah High told the court: “At around 10pm, the two complainers were waiting for a taxi on Glasgow Road.
“A short time later, a taxi pulled up and they got into the vehicle.
“As they did so, they became aware of a group of men walking towards the taxi rank.”
She said Rogers approached the cab and explained he had pre-booked it.
“As soon as this became apparent, the two complainers exited the vehicle.
“The first complainer has little recollection of what occurred next but remembered falling to the floor.
“He believes he was knocked unconscious and when he came to, he saw the second complainer bleeding from the face.”
Injuries
The prosecutor said the second victim heard “raised voices” from his colleague’s side of the taxi.
“He walked round and saw the first complainer lying on the road,” Ms High told the court.
“As he went to help, he became aware of blows to his face. His nose was bleeding.
“He became involved in a scuffle with the accused.
“It ended with the accused walking away north along Glasgow Road.”
The fiscal depute said a passing motorist saw the first complainer kneeling on the carriageway while Rogers repeatedly punched the other man.
“The driver stopped to assist and conveyed the second complainer to Ninewells Hospital for treatment.
“He had concussion and suffered cuts to both eyes, his lips and his forehead.”
Ms High said police were contacted and traced the first complainer.
“He also attended at Ninewells and was diagnosed with concussion,” the fiscal depute said.
“He had suffered bruising behind both ears.”
Caught on camera
The prosecutor said CCTV “clearly” showed Rogers punching the first victim to the face, causing him to fall back onto road.
He continued to punch him, while the second complainer and the accused’s friend tried to separate them.
“The accused then punched the second complainer repeatedly to the face, before walking away,” said Ms High.
“He took off his jacket and returned to the complainer and punched him once before kicking him to the face.
“He then repeatedly punched him to the face and walked away, before returning a third time and punching him repeatedly again to the face.”
Rogers, an operations analyst for a banking firm, admitted a “flurry” of punches to both men.
“The reason why this erratic behaviour happened was a build up of stuff that happened at home,” he said.
“That has been sorted out now, and I’m not going out drinking any more.”
