Teenager locked up for breaking facial bones of victim in brutal attack

A TEENAGER who left his victim with fractured facial bones after a "disgraceful" and "unprovoked" attack on a night out in Edinburgh was today locked up for nine months.

Liam Griffiths, 19, punched Blain Murphy as he chatted to a woman in the street and the blow caused him to fall to the ground.

Mr Murphy was taken to hospital and later had to have an operation leaving him with a metal plate and four screws inserted in his face.

Sheriff Michael O'Grady QC today blasted Griffiths and said: "This was a completely unprovoked drunken attack on a total stranger who suffered a very serious injury.

"He had to be admitted to hospital and undergo an operation, having a plate inserted in his jaw.

"It was a disgraceful attack and sadly typical of the cases we are seeing in the courts of violent, drunken young men inflicting terrible injuries on total strangers.

"Only a custodial sentence is appropriate."

At an earlier hearing fiscal depute John Kirk told Edinburgh Sheriff Court: "For absolutely no reason the panel came up to the complainer and punched him once to the right side of his face.

"The complainer fell to the ground and the panel walked away after committing this totally unprovoked assault."

The court heard Mr Murphy is expected to make a full recovery but the process would take some time.

Griffiths, of Christian Grove, Edinburgh, admitted punching Mr Murphy to the head, causing him to fall to the ground to his severe injury.

The attack happened at around 3.20am on 4 July last year at Edinburgh's North Bridge.

Griffiths also admitted breaching his bail conditions by being at North Bridge.

Defence agent Kenneth McFarlane said Griffiths had spent seven days in custody after his appearance in court on 7 July before being released on bail.

He said: "He says that short period in custody was a wake-up call about his conduct and his family say there has been a change in his attitude.

"This was indeed a very serious matter.

"It followed a row with his girlfriend and alcohol being consumed."

Griffiths, he said, was offering to pay compensation to his victim at the rate of 50 a month.

But Sheriff O'Grady QC said only custody was appropriate.