Hallglen thug’s horror attack on 72-year-old step dad

David Nicholson (31), Beauly Court, Hallglen, had the audacity to stand and applaud as his 72-year-old stepfather was taken away in an ambulance following the assault.

He had earlier turned up at the victim’s bungalow under the influence of drink and asked him for money.

Nicholson got some cash from the elderly man but returned an hour later to launch a ferocious attack on him.

Advocate depute Eric Robertson told the High Court in Edinburgh, Nicholson drove up at speed and began banging on his stepfather’s door.

The prosecutor said: “He opened his door and saw the accused there. The accused immediately punched him on the face and grabbed him by the throat. After this the victim has little recollection of events as he was in and out of consciousness.

“He does recall the accused striking him so that he fell, then dragging him towards the living area and repeatedly kicking him on the body. His next memory is of being in hospital in Edinburgh.”

Nicholson was seen climbing out of a window at his step dad’s home and a sheltered housing warden went to check on him and found him lying on the floor bleeding heavily from his face.

Mr Robertson said: “A chair had been knocked over and there was a microwave lying next to the victim’s right hip. The glass door of the microwave was smashed. There was glass all over his chest and right arm and over the floor.”

Blood splatter from the victim was on a wall.

An ambulance was called and Nicholson was heard shouting: “He deserves it. I will be back and try again. I want him dead.”

Paramedics considered the serious injuries to the victim were life-threatening and consistent with repeated kicking.

As the victim was taken to an ambulance Nicholson shouted: “You got what you deserved.”

Mr Robertson said: “The accused also applauded and was told off for doing so a paramedic.”

The victim was found to have sustained six fractured ribs and bleeding to the brain among a catalogue of injuries and spent 30 days in critical care.

Nicholson was arrested by police with blood on his hands and face.

Mr Robertson told the court that the victim had a relationship with Nicholson’s mother for about 18 years but it ended in 2011.

Prior to the attack he had stayed at a friend’s home and on the day of the murder bid was drinking Buckfast.

He left the flat and appeared angry.

Nicholson earlier admitted attempted murder at an address in Inverkeithing, Fife, on July 31 last year.

Defence solicitor advocate Gordon Martin said: “He had lost his job, been diagnosed with diabetes and was drinking excessively.”

The judge, Lord Burns, told Nicholson: “Having regard to the seriousness of this offence custody is inevitable.”

He deferred sentence on Nicholson for the preparation of a background report and remanded him in custody to a later date.