Binge drinker jailed over pole assault

Published on Thursday 2 July 2009 10:09

A 21-YEAR-OLD threw a bottle at two football fans and struck a complete stranger over the head with a metal pole after a two-and-a-half-day drinking session.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, Douglas Thurton was jailed for 32 months by Sheriff Derrick McIntyre. Thurton of North Junction Street had pleaded guilty previously to committing a breach of the peace in Albert Street on 30 August last year and to assaulting 23-year old James Richmond to his severe injury.

The trouble began when spectators were leaving a football match at Easter Road. Two of them saw three youths, including Thurton, standing on the opposite side of Albert Street. Thurton was drinking from a bottle, and without warning, threw it towards the two supporters.

A short while later Thurton swung a scaffolding pole at Mr Richmond's head. He raised his left arm to protect himself and it took the main force of the blow, and was fractured.

Defence agent, Stephen Knowles, said Thurton had suffered from a chaotic upbringing.