Factory boss left in coma after punch

Published on 18/10/2012 13:30

A SINGLE punch left a factory manager in a medically-induced coma after he intervened in a fight to protect a workmate.

John Brown landed a single blow in the face of Charles Johnstone, who fell and hit the back of his head on the ground. Brown, 25, fled from the scene leaving the attack victim lying unconscious but was later found by police crouching behind a fence in the rear garden of tenements in Dalkeith, in Midlothian. Brown left a pub after midnight and went to a taxi rank in the town’s Lothian Street to get a cab home. Mr Johnstone and his colleagues also arrived there.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Mr Johnstone, then aged 48, suffered a skull fracture and haemorrhage and had to remain in a medically-induced coma after surgeons operated to remove blood clots and reduce swelling. He was unable to return to work and was made redundant.

Brown, of Stoneybank Gardens North, Musselburgh, admitted assaulting Mr Johnstone to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life on December 18 last year.

The judge, Lord Uist, continued the case for sentencing until next month.