A THUG who punched a pensioner on the street without warning and left him with permanent brain damage is behind bars.

Brian Warden, 36, attacked 77-year-old Owen Hagan in the unprovoked attack as the pensioner walked past him and his wife in the street.

He smacked the retired school teacher and continued on, leaving the injured man unconscious and bleeding on the street.

Warden, who claims to have little recollection of the evening, handed himself in to police the next day after a media appeal, to see if he had any involvement.

The dad-of-three, from Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, pled guilty on Friday at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting Mr Hagen on March 23, 2018,to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life.

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Sheriff Norman Ritchie QC told Warden’s lawyer, Clare Ryan: “Your client has destroyed a man’s life.”

Mr Hagan was described in court as “very active and independent and enjoyed walking and learning new languages”.

Procurator fiscal depute Kathleen O’Donnell said around 9.30pm a number of people saw the couple arguing.

Warden was seen to punch and head butt walls in Bath Lane in Glasgow city centre.

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Miss O’Donnell said: “At this time, Mr Hagan who had been out drinking in Glasgow was heading along Bath Street in the direction of Warden and his wife.

“Whilst walking towards Mr Hagan, Warden then drew his arm back and punched Mr Hagan without warning, striking him to the head area causing him to fall backwards and strike his head on the pavement.

Mr Hagan was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where he had a CT which revealed a fractured skull and bleed to the brain.

The OAP, now wheelchair bound, is in danger of taking seizures and will have to sell his home to pay for his care at £950 per week.

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Miss Ryan, defending, said he has no previous convictions and is of good character, with three children.

Sheriff Ritchie deferred sentence for reports and remanded Warden in custody.
He told him: “This was not a good deed, this was a horrendous thing you did.

“You have caused the end of this active man’s life, a man who has given a public service.”

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