Dumbarton man jailed after leaving lorry driver with fractured skull

A thug who left a man with a brain injury, a fractured skull and shattered jaw was yesterday jailed for 28 months.

Connor Campbell, 21, from Dumbarton, admitted assaulting lorry driver James MacMartin, 47, to his severe injury and to the danger of his life under provocation.

The attack took place on September 26, last year, at Dumbarton Road, at Peel Street, Glasgow.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Campbell, who had been at a football match, and Mr MacMartin, who had earlier attended a funeral, clashed in the Stumps Bar in Dumbarton Road, Glasgow.

Mr MacMartin followed Campbell out and struck the first blow, but was then felled by a flurry of blows from Campbell.

Prosecutor Erin Campbell said: "Around 9pm Mr McMartin and the accused Campbell engaged in a stand-up fight outside the bar.

"The cause of the altercation is not known."

The court heard that witnesses described seeing Mr MacMartin fall to the ground striking his head on the roadway and Campbell punching him three or four times to the head while he was on the ground.

Mr MacMartin, who was lying unconscious partially underneath a stationary taxi, was then run over by it as he lay on the ground. None of his injuries, however, was caused by the taxi.

Police on mobile patrol saw the incident and chased after Campbell who ran off, while an off-duty doctor and members of the public tended to Mr MacMartin.

When the officers apprehended Campbell he told them: "What the f*** are youse doing. I've done nothing."

Mr MacMartin, who was unconscious, was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and a CT scan revealed he had suffered a bleed on the brain and a fractured jaw and skull.

Ms Campbell revealed that CCTV footage showed that Campbell left the bar and seconds later Mr MacMartin followed him out.

Mr MacMartin chased after Campbell and swung a punch at him. The pair struggled with each other and Mr MacMartin was punched to the ground.

The court heard that Mr MacMartin had to undergo a brain operation and had to have metal plates and screws inserted in his jaw.

Ms Campbell added: "Mr MacMartin, who was formerly a lorry driver, has had his driving licence suspended by the DVLA due to the severity of his brain injury.

"He continues to experience dizziness, a decrease in mobility and discomfort in his jaw. It is accepted that these injuries are as a direct consequence of his assault on Mr MacMartin."

Defence counsel Louise Arrol said: "In 2015 Mr Campbell was the victim of a serious assault and was hospitalised.

"An argument developed in the pub and he left. He was followed by Mr MacMartin who struck the first blow."

Judge Lord Burns sentenced Campbell to two years and four months.

He said: "This serious assault was devastating for the victim both physically and from an employment point of view."