A Kirkcaldy man who “abducted” two brothers and drove them to an industrial estate where they were savagely beaten has been handed a community sentence.
Owen Bonner lured the pair into his vehicle under the pretext of buying a quad bike that had been stolen by one of the brothers the night before.
He drove John and Lee Dunsire to an industrial estate on the town’s Hayfield Place, where they were set upon by a group of men.
Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court was told Bonner was “shocked” by the brutality which ensued and fled the scene.
Bonner, brothers William and John Matthew and a fourth man, Connor Davies, had been accused of carrying out the assault.
Bonner was found guilty of driving the Dunsires to the Matthew and Son site, against their will, on April 13 2021.
Limited involvment
Solicitor Kerr Sneddon said it was to his client’s credit Bonner had attempted to help the brothers by throwing one a crutch as he fled.
He said his client has since cut all business ties with the industrial estate.
He said: “He continues to be very upset in his involvement in this matter – I think that shows his remorse.
“He’s a man of good character, apart from this aberration.
“He does not want to come back to court and would do anything to avoid custody.
“He was completely shocked by (the assault) and defected from the locus.
“He was so shocked that he didn’t want anything to do with it.”
He added Bonner had been suffering from mental health issues which had been “exacerbated” by the court case.
Sheriff Robert More told Bonner although he had used “deception” rather than force to get the Dunsires into the van, it was still a serious matter.
He said: “You deposited the complainers at the industrial estate, where they were both assaulted by others.
“Your criminal liability extends only to abduction.
“The crime of abduction will always be regarded as serious.”
Bonner, of Kidd Street in Kirkcaldy, was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
The trial
The trial heard John Dunsire had stolen a quad bike from the yard the night before.
Bonner drove him, with his brother Lee Dunsire, to what John Dunsire thought was a deal to sell it in exchange for drugs.
However, Mr Dunsire claimed he and his brother were set upon by a group of men and beaten mercilessly in retribution for the theft of the child’s bike.
Both needed surgery for broken bones.
William Matthew, 59, John Matthew, 63, Connor Davies, 27, and Bonner – all from the Kirkcaldy area – were cleared of assault.
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