Ayr Men Jailed For Attack on Brothers
A man who jumped on another man's face as he lay on the ground causing multiple fractures to his head was on a night out to celebrate being accepted for the Parachute Regiment.
24 year-old Mark McSorley assaulted his victim last June by punching him on the head, knocking him to the ground and repeatedly stamping on his head to the danger of his life.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how McSorley and 43-year-old Ian Whiteford had attacked the man and his brother.
On Friday, judge Lord Bannatyne jailed McSorley for seven and a half years. He also ordered him to be supervised for six and a half years following his release from custody.
Whiteford was jailed for four years and six months for his part in the assaults. He will be supervised for three years following his release from custody.
Passing sentence, Lord Bannatyne made reference to CCTV evidence which captured the incident.
He also spoke about a report commissioned by the court which stated McSorley posed a 'maximum' risk to public safety.
The judge, who was appointed in 2008, told McSorley: "This was a terrible attack. It was a sustained, cowardly and an appalling attack on an utterly defenceless man.
"In my many years of being involved with the law, I have never seen video footage as shocking as the video which was shown to the court in this case.
"I have also never seen anybody described in reports as you have been described. Mostly, people are assessed at being a high risk of reoffending or at a medium risk.
But you are assessed at a maximum risk of reoffending.
"The most important concern I have is that of maintaining public safety. I must impose an extended sentence."
At earlier proceedings at the High Court in Glasgow, advocate depute David Nicolson, prosecuting, said:
"The incident was captured on CCTV cameras." The court heard that McSorley and Gary Boyle exchanged words and then took part in a stand up fight.
Mr Nicolson said: "Mr Boyle was then pulled to the ground from behind by Whiteford.
"Whiteford proceed to punch Gary Boyle repeatedly to his head and face and McSorley stamped on his head five or six times."
At this point Craig Boyle went over to help his brother and was viciously attacked by McSorley who repeatedly punched him on the head and face.
As Mr Boyle lay on the ground McSorley stood up, looked around and then leapt into the air and jumped and stamped on his head before he and Whiteford ran off.
The attacks lasted one minute. Gary Boyle suffered cuts and bruises and has been left with a permanent scar over his right eye.
His brother Craig had to undergo an operation to have two titanium plates inserted in his face.
Mr Nicolson added: "It is accepted that the libel of to the danger of his life is accepted on the basis that repeated punching and jumping on someone's head can potentially have fatal consequences. As it transpired there was no actual danger to the life of either complainer."
On Friday, the court heard that the pair had gone on a boozy night out to celebrate McSorley being accepted to serve in the elite army unit.
The court also heard that McSorley had a previous high court conviction for violence.
Lord Bannatyne said he had no other option but to send the pair to prison.