A pair of brothers who carried out a brutal attack on a stranger because they did not like his “banter” have been sent to prison.
Ian McDougall, 35, Kenmore Street and Michael McDougall, 27, Moness Terrace, both Aberfeldy, set upon Russell Ferguson, 33, while he was on a work night out in the town with a group of firefighters.
Mr Ferguson was left with a broken nose and fractured cheekbone when the brothers assaulted him after taking exception to something he said.
Depute fiscal Stuart Richardson told Perth Sheriff Court: “Other than an excess of alcohol, I am at a loss to explain why what happened next did happen.
“It simply began as good-natured ribbing between the complainer and a group of people including the accused, but that very quickly turned to violence. The complainer was repeatedly punched to the head and body, which knocked him over, and then he was kicked on the body. Other people nearby eventually managed to intervene and bring the attack to an end.”
Mr Ferguson was taken to the local cottage hospital by taxi but his facial swelling was so severe he was transferred to Perth Royal Infirmary. He sustained broken bones and severe swelling to his face.
Both the accused admitted assaulting Mr Ferguson to his severe injury in The Square in the Perthshire town on March 23 last year.
Sheriff Fiona Tait noted that the brothers already had seven previous convictions for assault between them and she jailed the elder brother for 12 months and his sibling for 13 months.
“The only appropriate sentence is a custodial one,” the sheriff said.