Two men who attacked a Wishaw dad hosting a teenage birthday party have been ordered to pay him compensation.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that Brian Wands and Stephen Cowan turned up at the bash after hearing Wands’ daughter had been hurt during a fight.
A furious Cowan asked: "Who’s the dad"? and when his victim identified himself, Cowan headbutted him.
The party host was then punched and kicked by both men and suffered injuries that meant he couldn’t work for an extended period.
Wands, 40, of Ferguson Crescent, Newmains, and 56-year-old Cowan, of Cheviot Crescent, Wishaw, were found guilty by a jury of assaulting the man to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
The attack happened at an address in Wishaw on February 1, 2020.
Sentencing the pair this week, Sheriff Ray Small said: “It doesn’t matter what you think of the victim holding a party and allowing youngsters to get drunk.
“It’s not against the law and it happens day in, day out.
“He did not deserve this.
“He was off work for some considerable time with injuries to his head and back, and is left with scarring.”
The sheriff wasn’t impressed by the men’s claim they went to the house on a “rescue mission” after Wands’ daughter was hurt.
He stated: “No doubt this started because of the girls fighting.
“However, Mrs Wands had already been there to rescue her daughter.
“Rather than a rescue mission, it’s far more likely that you were on a revenge mission because Mrs Wands said she had been disrespected by the victim.
“You went to sort it out.”
Defence agents Stephen MacBride and Vincent McGovern conceded both men have criminal records, but pointed out they have not been in trouble in recent years apart from this incident.
They urged the Sheriff to impose community-based sentences rather than jail.
Mr McGovern admitted that Cowan had “got involved in a situation and bad choices were made”.
Sheriff Small said he wouldn’t impose prison sentences as both men have responsible jobs and had stayed out of trouble for some time prior to this.
Each was placed under supervision for 18 months and must carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work.
Cowan was ordered to pay the assault victim £1000 compensation while Wands must pay £750.
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