Criminal who admitted knocking out man's teeth avoids jail

A thug who boasted he "enjoyed" attacking a man has walked free from court.

Francis O'Rourke, 61, left Andrew Hawker permanently scarred after knocking out his teeth during the assault in Glasgow's Maryhill in March 2019.

O’Rourke smashed the 34-year-old with an ornament.

He pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to the assault to Mr Hawker’s severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Sheriff Joan Kerr put O’Rourke under supervision for two years and placed him on a restriction of liberty order for five months between the hours of 8pm and 7am.

She said: “You pleaded guilty to a serious assault which resulted in the complainer having permanent and visible scarring.

“You have lengthy previous convictions and in my view it shows your life has been blighted by alcohol abuse and you have a tendency towards disorder.

“In all circumstances I will give you an opportunity in the community which will not be easy for you but will give you support.”

An earlier hearing was told the pair had got into a disagreement.

Prosecutor Claire Wallace said: “O’Rourke began hitting Mr Hawker with an ornament as he sat on the couch.”

O’Rourke later dialled 999 asking for Mr Hawker to be removed from his house.

The attacker called his victim “unwelcome visitor”.

Mr Hawker also called the police moments later claiming to be “locked in” O’Rourke’s house and had been assaulted.

The handler heard “banging” throughout the call and Mr Hawker shouting and screaming.

He said: “Help me, help me, he is chopping me, let me go, Frank stop it.”

Police soon arrived to the house.

Miss Wallace said: “Mr Hawker was on the floor bleeding from a wound to his right eye and had blood on the rest of his face.”

O’Rourke was identified by Mr Hawker as the attacker and he was arrested by officers.

Mr Hawker was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary for treatment where he received three stitches on his forehead.

Miss Wallace added: “This will leave permanent scarring.”

Mr Hawker also lost several teeth and had defensive bruising on his right arm.

O’Rourke was later interviewed by police where he admitted the assault on Mr Hawker.

He told officers: “I enjoyed it, I smashed his f***ing head in.”

Keith Tuck, defending, told the court O’Rourke claimed had been taken advantage of by Mr Hawker which sparked the assault.

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