A thug has avoided a prison sentence for breaking a man’s jaw in a fight outside a city pub.
Darren Cree, of Emmock Woods Drive, must pay Nicholas Humphrey compensation of £1,500 after his attack left his victim with a metal plate holding his jaw together as well as a two and a half-inch scar from his ear to his lip.
The 24-year-old became embroiled in a brawl outside the Balcony Bar on Ward Road after security staff kicked him out of the pub.
Cree had an altercation with Mr Humphrey in the toilets, with the victim being described as “the main aggressor” by a steward.
Once outside, Cree punched Mr Humphrey from behind and he fell to the ground.
Cree then walked off towards the Overgate Shopping Centre.
Police and ambulance crews attended and found Mr Humphrey bleeding from the mouth, with a missing tooth and a swollen hand.
He was taken to Ninewells Hospital where he received treatment for a broken jaw, including the insertion of a metal plate, and to a fracture in his hand.
Cree admitted assaulting Mr Humphrey by punching him on the head, causing him to fall to the ground, to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement on April 6 last year.
Solicitor Anika Jethwa told Dundee Sheriff Court: “It’s clear the complainer was causing a great deal of trouble in the bar.
“He accepts he acted badly and should not have behaved in this manner. He is genuinely remorseful for his actions. He’s very concerned and upset about his actions and he seems to have settled down with his partner.”
Passing sentence, Sheriff Alastair Carmichael said: “This was a bad assault. It resulted in a nasty injury so that put things into the custodial zone. You do not have any previous convictions, there’s mitigation as to how all this came to happen and I am told you have a good work ethic.”
As an alternative to custody, Cree was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and was placed on a restriction of liberty order keeping him indoors between 8pm-6am from Monday to Friday for 15 weeks.
He was placed on supervision for 18 months as well as being ordered to pay the compensation.
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