Two men jailed for attacking a man with a 'ferocious blow' at a football game

Two men have been jailed after a man was knocked unconscious with a “ferocious blow” on the road outside a busy pub after a Scotland and England game.

Ryan Baillie was attacked by Scotland fans Josh Lewis, 23, and Kyle Byrne, 26, wearing identical pink football tops outside the Storm Queen pub on Dumbarton Road in June this year.

They punched and kicked their victim and Byrne smacked Mr Baillie with a sandwich board.

Lewis then landed a 'ferocious blow' on him, knocking him unconscious on the road for several minutes.

Lewis and Byrne hailed a taxi to Govan and directed the driver to go on a longer route that didn’t take them past Mr Baillie.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court Lewis, from Govan, admitted the assault on June 10 by punching and kicking Mr Baillie to his severe injury and permanent impairment.

Byrne, who was remanded for the attack, admitted punching and kicking Mr Baillie and hitting him on the body with a sandwich board.

He was jailed for eight months by sheriff Joseph Platt for his part in the attack and Lewis was handed a 20 month sentence.

The court heard that Mr Baillie watched the football match that saw Scotland and England draw 2-2, in a nearby pub then went to Storm Queen.

Around 10pm Mr Baillie went outside to smoke where Lewis was already standing and there was some conversation.

Fiscal depute Ruth Ross-Davie said Lewis went inside to speak to Byrne and two other men - all four were wearing identical bright pink Scotland tops.

The men went outside where Lewis punched Mr Baillie to the head, sending him to the ground.

Miss Ross-Davie said: “He was kicked to the head and body by Lewis and Byrne.

'Byrne then picked up a sandwich board which had been placed outside and smashed this over Mr Baillie.

'Mr Baillie managed to get to his feet, assisted by a member of the public and made his way behind a silver van.'

He took his belt off to defend himself but was punched by Byrne who kicked him as he fell to the ground.

The prosecutor continued: 'Mr Baillie got to his feet, a few seconds later Lewis made his way around the back of the silver fan, sneaking up behind Mr Baillie and punched him once very hard to the head causing him to fall to the ground in the middle of the road.'

Mr Baillie lay unconscious for around four minutes and he was helped by passers by who waited with him until an ambulance arrived.

Lewis and Byrne hailed a taxi to Govan but asked the taxi driver to avoid Dumbarton Road which he found strange because it's the fastest route.

They were described as 'excitable' and talking about a fight.

The men were identified from CCTV footage and when police searched Lewis’ house they saw a pink Scotland top worn by him that night.

Mr Baillie was taken to the neurosurgery department with serious head injuries and kept in for five days.

He suffered multiple fractures to his cheek bone, a fractured skull, bleeding on his brain, a brain clot and nerve damage to the top of his spine.

Miss Ross-Davie added: 'He suffered a loss of hearing and may require an operation if the matter doesn’t improve.

'He also suffered a deformity around his right eye.'

The court heard: 'It was the single very ferocious blow from Josh Lewis hat caused the severe injury and permanent impairment to Ryan Baillie'.

He was signed off work until August but has since been signed off again and suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and panic attacks since the incident.