Thug swung plank at victim and broke his jaw

Jamie O’Donnell (22) attacked the 50-year-old man with the plank of wood and broke his jaw.

Appearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court today, O’Donnell, of High Bonnybridge, admitted the assault he committed in Camelon on April 30 last year. The attack led to severe injury and permanent disfigurement for his victim.

The court heard the victim was returning home after a night out when he saw O’Donnell arguing with a woman in the street.

He told O’Donnell to “grow up and leave it alone” and, after “an exchange of words”, O’Donnell left.

Samantha Brown, procurator fiscal depute, said: “A few minutes later, the accused returned carrying a large plank of wood with nails in it. He struck the man on the left cheek with the plank, causing him to fall to the ground, and then continued to strike him a number of times with the plank of wood.

“Eventually the man got to his feet, and the accused fled.”

Doctors treating the victim found he had a broken lower jaw and this required an operation and the installation of four metal plates and 14 screws.

Defence solicitor Simon Hutchison said O’Donnell accepted he should not have acted as he did.

Sheriff Craig Caldwell deferred sentence on O’Donnell until May 3 and warned him he would in all likelihood be heading for prison.