A dad-of-two was jailed for 18 months yesterday for his role in a drunken pub fight which kicked off at 9.40am.
Christopher McGarry battered his victim with glass bottles and a bar stool during the melee at an Edinburgh bar.
The 36-year-old was repeatedly ushered from The Marksman in the city’s Leith area by patrons, but returned twice to launch more assaults on James Nicholson.
McGarry’s solicitor said the trouble was sparked by a “drunken, stupid argument” after the court was given details of the morning’s carnage.
But Sheriff John Mundy sent McGarry to prison for the “very serious” offence, adding the thug “came back to assault (Nicholson) again after the initial attack”.
Fiscal depute Jade Doig said McGarry and two other men had been in the pub with Nicholson and all knew each other and were drinking together.
Police later obtained CCTV footage from the premises which recorded the rammy.
Ms Doig said the video showed a “physical argument” starting and Nicholson “picked up a bar stool”, held it above his head, and ran towards McGarry.
The court heard Nicholson put the stool down and McGarry pushed him to the chest while another man punched the victim in the head, knocking him into benches.
Ms Doig said: “Mr McGarry picks up a glass bottle and strikes Mr Nicholson across the head with it while he was lying on the seat.”
The CCTV showed a staff member taking the bottle away and putting in on the bar, she said.
Nicholson fell to the floor, the court heard, and McGarry picked up a bar stool, held it over his head, and struck the injured victim twice with it.
Ms Doig said Nicholson stood up and managed to find kitchen roll to staunch the flow of blood from a head wound.
McGarry was pushed out the pub by patrons but returned, punched Nicholson to the side of the head and left again.
The prosecutor said McGarry came back in “shortly thereafter” and Nicholson retreated behind the bar.
She added: “Mr McGarry picks up another glass bottle, leans over the bar, and strikes Mr Nicholson to the head again.”
Police arrived at the Duke Street pub at 9.50am following the ten-minute long incident.
Nicholson was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where his head wound was glued and he underwent a CAT scan.
The court heard Nicholson was “not forthcoming” about the attack to officers who were forced to rely on security camera footage for evidence.
Defence agent John Goode said McGarry had known Nicholson and the other men involved for a “number of years” and they were still friends.
The solicitor said McGarry and Nicholson “reconciled” after the “drunken, stupid argument that was taken out of all proportion”.
McGarry, from the city’s Balgreen area, admitted assaulting Nicholson on March 20 last year, punching him repeatedly on the head whilst acting along with others, and repeatedly striking him on the head with bottles and a bar stool to his injury.
