Thugs jailed for savage attack on 'family friend'

Published 22 Sep 2011 08:00

A MAN has been left half-blind in one eye after he was set upon by young thugs he considered "family friends".

Shane Gibson was repeatedly kicked in the head by James Kerr (21) and Jack Martin (21) until he fell unconscious as he hosted a house party.

Even as he lay motionless on the couch they continued their savage attack. The beating left Mr Gibson unable to see clearly out of his left eye and facing regular visits to the hospital.

While 50 per cent of his vision has returned to his damaged eye, specialist doctors say his sight is unlikely to improve.

Yet despite this Alloa Sheriff Court heard that Mr Gibson remained friends with Kerr's family.

Kerr, of Burnside Road, Menstrie and Martin, of Craighorn Road, Alva, were jailed for 18 months on Thursday. Sentencing them Sheriff Paul Arthurson said custody was the only "viable option" due to the "appalling" nature of the offence.

Jim Robertson, prosecuting, explained that on 7 January this year Mr Gibson was having a party in his flat in Abercrombie Place, Menstrie, when Kerr arrived with his mother and Martin.

The procurator fiscal said they all began drinking and after a short time Kerr and Martin left to get more booze.

He went on, "They returned later with more alcohol. About 10pm Mr Gibson asked them to leave as he wanted to go to bed.

"Martin took exception to being asked to leave and launched at the complainer, who was sitting on the couch, and kicked him to the head stunning him.

"The complainer was aware of both accused kicking him to the head until he lost consciousness. Others in the house said the assault lasted for some time."

Eventually the attack ceased and Mr Gibson was taken to hospital.

Mr Robertson said his injuries had been seen by doctors on 10 separate occasions in the six months since the assault.

In July a specialist examined him and concluded that his left eye "is now half as good as his right eye".

He added, "Although his left eye has improved it will not get any better. In his (the specialist's) opinion Mr Gibson will have a permanent impairment in his left eye."

Kerr and Martin both claimed to have little recollection of the assault due to the amount of booze they had consumed.

Mr MacLeod, defending Kerr, said his client attended at Mr Gibson's home the next day to apologise.

He went on, "Mr Gibson is a family friend and remains so. Mr Kerr accepts this is a very serious assault and realises that custody will be at the forefront of the court's mind."

Christine Hagan, Martin's solicitor, said her client was a young father but had split from the mother of his child at the end of last year.

She continued, "Mr Martin's memory of events is hazy at best. There have been difficulties with Mr Martin in the past, especially with valium.

"It's his recollection that there was some disagreement between the complainer and Mr Kerr's mother that sparked the incident."

Kerr and Martin appeared from custody and pled guilty to the charge of assault to severe injury and permanent impairment.

Sentence was backdated to 24 August when the pair were remanded.

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This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 21 Sep 11

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