Heriot 20-year-old ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to fellow Galashiels nightclub-goer he assaulted

A drunken reveller responsible for an unprovoked assault to severe injury in a Galashiels nightclub on New Year’s Day has been ordered to pay £1,000 to his victim to make amends.
The Indigo Rooms nightclub in Galashiels.The Indigo Rooms nightclub in Galashiels.
The Indigo Rooms nightclub in Galashiels.

Mathew Morrison, 20, of Heriot, pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to butting his victim at the Indigo Rooms in the town’s Overhaugh Street.

Morrison also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

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Depute fiscal Fiona Hamilton told Selkirk Sheriff Court the accused approached Alan Smith and, in an unprovoked attack, butted him, breaking his nose and also causing a cut.

She explained that Mr Smith’s brother had got involved in an altercation and Morrison told him: “Who the f*** are you? If you don’t back off, I will do the same to you.”

Outside the nightclub, the accused threatened to kill Mr Smith’s brother and there were exchanges between the pair over a ripped jumper.

Defence lawyer Graham Clark: “I think something was said to start it off. It is all to do with drink.

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“He was employed as a civil servant, but took the decision to resign over this and is now working in a warehouse.

“It was out of character and he has shown genuine remorse.”

Sheriff Raymond McMenamin imposed a community payback order involving 150 hours’ unpaid work and a year’s supervision, as well as a compensation order of £1,000 for his victim.