A dad of two has been jailed for a brutal bottle attack on a Hamilton shopkeeper.
CCTV footage showing Alan King smash the glass container over Tariq Javaid’s head was played at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday.
King (33), a prisoner, admitted assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement at the Day to Day shop in Burnbank on March 12.
The court heard he lashed out with the bottle and punched the shopkeeper repeatedly when he was caught trying to steal alcohol from the shop.
During the attack King, who was on bail for another matter at the time, hurled racist abuse at Mr Javaid.
Paula Russell, prosecuting, said the shopkeeper was taken to hospital where he had nine staples put in an 8cm wound to the side of his head. He also had a small cut near his nose.
King also sustained injuries in what became a fight with Mr Javaid. He was treated for a cut behind his ear and bruising.
A defence agent said the accused has had a drug problem for many years. He had been cutting down but family difficulties led to a relapse.
The solicitor added: “A person supplied him with drugs and requested a particular bottle of alcohol be brought to him in return. That’s why my client went to this shop.
“The shopkeeper had a can and struck Mr King on the back of the head. That cut required to be glued.
“The CCTV also shows him striking blows when my client was on the ground.
“Nevertheless, Mr King has apologised for his behaviour in a letter to the court.”
Jailing King, Sheriff Douglas Brown told him: “Shopkeepers are in a vulnerable position and the court has to impose sentences which deter attacks on them.
“Thirty months is appropriate, but I’ll reduce that to 20 months because of your early guilty plea.”
The sentence was backdated to March 13 as King has been in custody since then.
