Thug pulled hood over victim's head

John Sneddon (35) and the target of his assault had no love for each other and an encounter on the street in the early hours of the morning left the man, who was walking home from his work, with a cut lip.

Sneddon appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday having admitted the assault on Daniel Findley he committed in Fairlie Drive, Camelon, on April 10 last year.

He also assaulted Mr Findley back in 2014.

Mhairi Alexander, procurator fiscal depute, said: “It was 2.50am and the witness was on his way home from work.

“He noticed the accused was also walking along the street.

“The accused ran up to him, grabbed hold of his hooded jacket and held it over his head. He proceeded to punch him five times to the head.

“The witness made his way home and contacted police.”

The victim suffered a cut lip in the attack.

The court heard there was a history of animosity between Mr Findley and Sneddon.

Defence solicitor Murray Aitken said: “They don’t get on and don’t necessarily see eye to eye. It certainly wasn’t a random attack but it wasn’t something he pre-planned either.”

It was stated Sneddon, who had not offended since 2007 prior to these assaults, had only 15 hours of the unpaid work segment of his community payback order outstanding.

Sheriff Derek Livingston deferred sentence on Sneddon, 17 Kilbrennan Drive, Tamfourhill, for four months to allow criminal justice reports to be carried out.