A MAN who had been saving to buy his first home has been ordered by a court to hand over that cash to another man he seriously assaulted.

Paul Haughey, 21, of Meadowside Road, Queenzieburn, appeared in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court after a jury found him guilty of the assault last month.

Haughey pounced on his victim on September 27, 2014 at Eastside in Kirkintilloch.

He was found guilty of punching the victim on the head and repeatedly kicking him on the head to his severe injury.

The assault caused his victim to lose consciousness.

The court heard that Haughey was found guilty under deletion.

Charges that he struck his victim with his knee and stamped on his head were removed from the indictment, and for that reason Sheriff William J Totten said he was able to hand out a non-custodial sentence.

His defence agent Mr Garrett told the court that his client and the victim were both young men and on the evening of the assault, alcohol was consumed.

Sheriff Totten interrupted the mitigation saying: “Alcohol cannot be an excuse for this kind of behaviour.”

Mr Garrett explained that his client had accepted the decision of the jury and urged Sheriff Totten to consider a compensation order.

He said: “If your Lordship was to impose a custodial sentence, the impact would be detrimental to Mr Haughey.”

He also explained his client had £3,600 worth of savings put by for a mortgage.

He said: “My client has managed to secure employment. He has been very candid and told them this matter is still outstanding.”

Sheriff Totten took some time on the bench before addressing Haughey.
He reminded Haughey that his victim spent four days in hospital following the attack and was out of work for 10 weeks, 

Sheriff Totton told Haughey he was prepared to “extend mercy his way.”
He told Haughey he was complete 300 hours of unpaid work in the community within 12 months.

He was ordered to pay his victim £6,000 with the savings of £3,600 to be paid within seven days.