A RUTHERGLEN man has been spared punishment for repeatedly punching a man on the head after a sheriff said he understood why he carried out the assault.

Matthew McDermott was in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court on April 19 after pleading guilty to assaulting the victim on New Year's Eve last year on Hamilton Road at Stonelaw Road.

The 26-year-old repeatedly punched the other man's head, resulting in laceration to the victim's face.

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However, McDermott's defence agent told the court the Hamilton Road resident was reacting to a tirade of abuse from the victim - a relative of the accused's neighbour - who has since been snared for an attempted theft from McDermott's home where he "attacked [McDermott's] parents".

The family have since been moved to temporary housing due to the "difficulties" they experienced with the victim.

He added: "He, by chance, came across [the victim] while in the presence of his mother.

"[The victim] was walking in the direction he would have met the accused and his mother.

"[The victim] stopped and started to act in the manner described and it turned into a fight."

The defence agent said McDermott's father suffers from a heart condition and his mother struggles with depression and anxiety, which McDermott "puts down" to the difficulties the family has experienced with the victim.

Depute fiscal Marie McCue explained the victim attended Hairmyres Hospital following the attack as he had a laceration to this head, however, he did not require treatment.

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Sheriff Lindsay Wood told the Hamilton Road resident he "got" McDermott's reasoning for the assault, who claimed he was "fed up" and simply tried to "defend [his] parents".

He said: "I get it. I had to make enquiries there [about the victim]. It seems he has a bit of a record.

"I can understand why you did what you did."

McDermott was granted an absolute discharge.