A burly brute has avoided jail – despite leaving a birthday bash reveller with a bleed on the brain.
Harry McDonough punched Dean Wilson, 21, so hard he smashed his head off the ground, fracturing his skull and cheekbone.
Surgeons had to cut the young victim’s head open to operate following the assault in Shuttle Street, Paisley.
McDonough, 24, was found guilty of assault after provocation.
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Sheriff Seith Ireland said an attack case resulting in such serious injuries would typically see a judge considering “a substantial period of custody”.
But he said there were “a number of factors” which made the case different, including the fact that McDonough was provoked and his only previous conviction was speeding.
He spared him prison, placing him on a Community Payback Order which will see him carrying out 290 hours of unpaid work.
During his trial, McDonough, of Craigsfaulds Avenue, Paisley, told the jury he felt “threatened” before he punched Mr Wilson, who was celebrating his birthday on December 16 last year.
He said: “I just saw Dean Wilson and a couple of other people attacking my friend.
“I felt under attack.”
When asked by prosecutor Henna Chaudry why he had delivered “quite a considerable punch” to a “small built” man, he replied: “It was self defence.
“I felt threatened.
“They were shouting aggressively towards me after I’d just seen them attacking my friend.”
Miss Chaudry then asked: “You are a man of considerable size and you say you felt threatened?”
McDonough replied: “That’s correct, yes.
“I would say I was attacked. I felt threatened.
“I felt like I would’ve been attacked if I’d turned to walk away.
“I had been pushed or punched.
“I was retaliating.
“I was acting in self defence.”
