A violent lout who lobbed a glass bottle at his victim’s head during a drunken row in his Perth flat has been told prison is inevitable.
Police found a pool of blood when they went to investigate reports of an assault at Luke MacDonald’s home in St Catherine’s Square.
The 24-year-old admitted he attacked associate Blake Smith but only because “he asked me to”.
MacDonald, who has a history of offending and was jailed for assaults last year, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted assaulting Mr Smith to his severe injury on January 17 this year.
Blood-soaked victim
Prosecutor Sarah Wilkinson said three people, including Mr Smith, went to MacDonald’s flat in St Catherine’s square at about 6pm.
“The accused and another male were already there when they arrived,” she said.
“All parties were consuming alcohol.”
About 9pm, an argument erupted over allegations made about Mr Smith.
“The accused asked the complainer to leave the locus,” said Ms Wilkinson.
“He was encouraged by others to hit him.”
MacDonald repeatedly punched him to the face and threw an empty glass bottle – either wine or vodka – in his direction.
“This struck him on the back of the head, causing a cut,” the fiscal depute said.
Mr Smith left the flat and called police.
When officers arrived, they found him outside with blood on his face.
He told police he had been hit by a bottle by a man inside the block.
“When officers went inside, they could see signs of a disturbance,” the court was told.
“There was a pool of blood within the locus.”
MacDonald was arrested and told police: “I hit him in the face but he asked me to.”
No application for bail
The court heard the victim declined medical attention but was checked over by paramedics.
While in custody, MacDonald refused to leave his cell to be interviewed.
He has been remanded since he first appeared on petition in January, when he made no application for bail.
Sheriff Alison McKay said jail was “not only at the forefront of the court’s mind but also inevitable”.
She deferred sentence for background reports, to assess whether MacDonald was suitable for supervised release order.
“You will appreciate this is a serious matter, particularly given your record of previous convictions involving violence,” the sheriff said.
MacDonald was previously jailed for a “ferocious” assault at a Perth homeless unit.
The court heard how he may have been in the grip of a drug-induced psychosis when he battered his victim, causing multiple broken facial bones.
He was seen leaving the man’s room with his hands soaked with blood.
Sentencing him to 27 months, Sheriff Wood warned MacDonald not to become “one of those sad lonely lags” who are in and out of prison all of their lives.
For more local court content visit our page or join us on Facebook.
