No jail after kicking man in the head

A TEENAGE thug who kicked a man in the head during a Christmas street battle has escaped a jail sentence.

Dale Gilfillan launched the assault on victim Daniel Main after scuffles had broken out between groups of men in Whispers bar, Tranent, East Lothian.

Gilfillan and co-accused Jamie Devlin headbutted Mr Main to the ground before attacking the defenceless man as he lay on the ground during the drink-fuelled assault.

The pair repeatedly punched and kicked him, but Gilfillan, 19, went further by kicking Mr Main in the head to the “endangerment to his life”.

Both Gilfillan and Devlin, 19, were told the “serious assault” would normally attract a custodial sentence, but on this occasion they were spared prison.

Instead, both teenagers will be tagged, ordered to stay indoors between 7pm and 7am and will have to pay compensation to their victim.

Gilfillan, from Tranent, and Devlin, from Prestonpans, both East Lothian, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Main in Tranent on December 26, 2011 at Haddington Sheriff Court on Wednesday.