A STEVENSTON man was sent down last week after attacking a man with a two litre bottle of ginger.

David Lafferty, 52, pleaded guilty to one charge of assault, which caused severe injury, when he appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Thursday, March 23.

The case was first called in October, when the accused was remanded in custody for 25 days before being granted bail at the sheriff appeal court ahead of last week’s appearance.

Last Thursday’s hearing was told how Lafferty, of Townhead Street, Stevenston, saw the complainer as he was making his way home from the Cross Keys Bar.

The procurator fiscal depute explained how at around 5pm on September 7 last year, Lafferty approached the complainer, calling him a “grassing b*****d”.

The court heard that 52-year-old Lafferty had “history” with the complainer, dating back to their school days.

It was then explained how he struck his victim that day.

The fiscal depute said: “The accused approached him from behind and hit him on the back of the head with a bottle of Coca Cola.”

It was later clarified that the bottle was plastic - with Sheriff Alistair Watson remarking that despite this, a two litre bottle could carry some weight.

The fiscal depute continued: “The complainer fell to the ground and landed on his right arm, causing serious injury.

“The accused stated ‘take that’ as he walked away.”

A passing member of the public later spotted the complainer on the ground and walked him home.

The injured man attended Crosshouse Hospital the next morning where he discovered that he had shattered his elbow and required surgery and plates to be fitted.

When police traced Lafferty, he remarked “is this about the guy I hit with the Coca Cola bottle?”, adding: “We have history.”

Defence solicitor Brian Holliman looked to add further background to Lafferty’s actions, emphasising the history between the pair.

He told Sheriff Watson: “Over the past 40 years there have been a number of incidents between Mr Lafferty and the complainer.”

Mr Holliman also alleged that three incidents had occurred in the week leading up to this offence.

He added: “He [Lafferty] accepts that he is responsible for causing significant injury to the complainer.”

As he asked that Lafferty – who has committed offences dating back to 1990 – should not be put behind bars, Mr Holliman added that although his client was “no stranger to the court, or indeed custody”, he had not been in the dock for assault charges since 2006.

However, the lawyer said he “would understand” if imprisonment was imposed.

Sheriff Watson said: “At the end of the day, this was an unprovoked attack with a weapon. It caused an appalling injury to him.

“You are not young men, you are mature individuals.”

Lafferty was sentenced to 193 days in jail.