£2,000 fine for fight over football row

A vodka-fuelled argument about football ended in ‘shocking’ injuries and a £2,000 fine, Oban Sheriff Court has heard.

Marcin Korzec, 49, of 24 Polo Park, Aberdeen, admitted assaulting a man at an Oban guest house on March 10 this year by repeatedly punching him on the head to his severe injury.

Procurator fiscal Eoin McGinty told Oban Sheriff Court on Tuesday August 14 that ‘the complainer had consumed a considerable amount of vodka’, and then Korzec had invited him and others to his room to consume more vodka.

Then, Mr McGinty said, the complainer and Mr Korzec became ‘engaged in an argument about football. The complainer and accused began struggling in the hallway. The accused punched [the complainer] in the head. They ended up falling into the bathroom.

‘At that point they stopped and shook hands,’ he added, but ‘the accused punched [the complainer] in the head again. Eventually the accused stopped punching.

‘Police saw blood spattered on the floor. [The complainer] was taken to Oban hospital where he was kept overnight.

‘It was expected there would be a fracture given the extent of his injuries. There was a likelihood he would have damaged eyesight. There was not any long-term damage to his eye, although there was significant haematoma and swelling. The injuries were not as severe as anticipated.’

Defence agent Laura

McManus argued the complainer ‘was determined he would get Mr Korzec into a fight’, referring to his statement to police: ‘I like fighting. I am a fighting boy’.

‘There was considerable verbal provocation,’ Ms McManus said. ‘He was provoked, but he takes full responsibility for punching the complainer. He accepts provocation is not an excuse. He has no previous convictions. He is a very successful business owner. It should be dealt with as a total one-off, given Mr Korzec’s good record to date.’

Sentencing, Sheriff Patrick Hughes said: ‘These are shocking photographs. If there had been any fractures or loss of sight this would have been dealt with by a jury, and it is difficult to see how you would not be going to prison.’