A former Arbroath footballer who once shared a midfield with Scotland star Billy Gilmour has been told he faces being locked up for his role in a brutal Christmas Day gang attack that left two men severely injured.
Dylan Paterson, a former midfielder for Arbroath FC, was part of a group of about eight youths involved in a brawl on Baker Street, Stirling, in 2023.
Their victims suffered multiple injuries, with one spending two weeks in hospital with a broken leg.
Stirling Sheriff Court heard he will be scarred for life.
Paterson, 25 appeared in the dock alongside 20-year-old co-accused Aaron Brown.
They admitted, while with acting with others, assaulting a 40-year-old man to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment.
Brown further pled guilty to an assault on a 29-year-old man to his severe injury during the same incident.
Paterson arrived at Arbroath in 2021, having risen through the U17 ranks at Dundee Utd and Rangers, where he played alongside Scotland star Gilmour.
‘I’ve seen enough’
The court was shown CCTV of the early morning assault.
It showed a group of young men throwing punches and kicks under Christmas lights.
One man is seen dropping to the ground after being violently attacked.
After several minutes, Sheriff Keith O’Mahony asked for the footage to be stopped.
“I’ve seen enough,” he said.
The incident happened at about 1am after the two victims left a city centre pub.
Walking home, they met a group of between six and eight young men “causing a nuisance” outside Brewdog on Baker Street.
Neither victim could remember what was said but the altercation kicked off after the young men were challenged about their behaviour.
At 1.17am, a passer-by called 999 to report the fight.
Police officers raced to the scene and found the two men with visible injuries.
One had a swollen face, while the other was unable to walk due to a leg injury.
The court heard Paterson, of Braehead Road, Stirling, and Brown, of Gordon Square, Raploch, were identified by the CCTV footage.
Permanent scarring
The younger victim suffered facial fractures and required surgery to fix a broken nose.
The other was treated for a fractured fibula and broken kneecap.
He was in hospital for two weeks and has been left with a six-inch scar on his leg.
Solicitor Virgil Crawford, representing Brown, said his client had just turned 19 at the time of the assaults.
He has since found work as a landscaper.
Mr Crawford said the CCTV showed the most serious leg injury was caused by Paterson, not by Brown.
Labourer Paterson was described by his lawyer as a “talented footballer.”
“The team he plays for say he is a young man with a positive attitude,” he said.
Sheriff O’Mahony deferred sentence and allowed both men to remain on bail.
“All options, including detention, will be open to the court,” he warned.
Paterson, who played for Stirling Albion and most recently Linlithgow Rose, was regularly involved in charity work, the court heard.
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