An Annan thug guilty of selling sick puppies online later brutally attacked a man annoyed about his treatment of dogs.
Marco Tondo, 34, teamed up with friend Danny Davidson, 26, to pounce on Daley Halbert, who was left with more than a dozen fractures.
A judge watched horrific CCTV footage of the pair follow the 36 year-old victim out of a pub before punching, kicking and stamping on him in the middle of traffic.
The daylight attack on July 31 2020 came just months after Tondo was spared jail following a guilty plea to selling mistreated puppies from an illegal “pet shop” in East Dunbartonshire.
Tondo and Davidson had been due to go on trial charged with the attempted murder of Mr Halbert outside the Buck Inn pub in Annan.
But instead they both admitted to the reduced charge of assaulting the man to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life.
Tondo, of Annan, and Davidson, of Gretna, were both remanded in custody pending sentencing. The
High Court in Glasgow heard Mr Halbert knew both men, but was not aware of Tondo’s first name.
They were all in the pub on the day of the attack.
Prosecutor Angela Gray told the hearing Mr Halbert was a “dog lover” and knew Tondo had been involved in breeding the animals.
He was then said to be “unhappy” on hearing things Tondo was saying about dogs.
The court heard “words were exchanged” before Mr Halbert decided to leave the bar.
Footage played during the hearing then showed both thugs follow the victim onto the street before grabbing him.
Miss Gray said: “He was punched and kicked on the body and they repeatedly stamped on his head.
“The attack was sustained and Mr Halbert was unable to defend himself.”
As the victim lay stricken, the attackers walked away before one of the thugs then returned to boot the victim again.
Shocked diners at a nearby restaurant took
photos to further help identify the pair, who eventually fled in a car.
The court heard Mr Halbert suffered “extensive” fractures with more than 12 to the face including a broken nose, jaw and eye socket.
He ended up being transferred to hospital in Glasgow where he needed reconstructive surgery.
Medics concluded “significant force” was used by the attackers and that there had been a potential danger to life as well as threats of a brain injury.
Donna Armstrong, defending Davidson, asked for his bail to be continued, saying he had got a job in a sawmill since the crime and was due to become a dad.
Tondo’s lawyer Paul Mullen said he “fully accepted” he was facing a lengthy jail-term.
Judge Scott Pattison remanded both in custody as sentencing was adjourned for reports until March.
He told the pair: “This was a horrendous assault leading to significant and distressing injuries.”
Tondo hit the headlines in February 2020 after he sold ill puppies on Gumtree.
He was ordered to carry out 270 hours of unpaid work after he admitted causing the animals “unnecessary suffering”.
