Lecturer left blind in one eye after being attacked by strangers at festival
Two men who left a university lecturer blinded in one eye after an attack at a music festival have been jailed for a total of ten years.
Patrick Kerr, 33, and Simon Tierney, 38, turned on the victim, who also needed a metal plate inserted in his jaw following the assault, at the Rewind Festival at Scone Palace in July 2023.
The 53-year-old victim had been there with his family. He did not know the pair, but had 'polite' conversations with them at one stage.
The victim had then decided to walk away from an 'aggressive' Tierney but was set upon after refusing the offer of a chip.
The duo was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday.
They had earlier separately admitted to assaulting the victim to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, and impairment.
Tierney, who ran a gas fitting company, had pleaded guilty at a hearing last summer.
Sentencing had been delayed on him until the end of Kerr's trial in Dundee last month, but he ended up admitting to the same charge as his accomplice on the second day of the case.
Lord Renucci jailed Kerr for five-and-a-half years. Tierney was sentenced to four-and-a-half years.
The pair, both of Glenrothes, will be supervised for a further two years on their release.
A non-harassment order was also imposed, banning them from approaching or contacting the victim for an indefinite period.
Prosecutor Brian Bell explained at the hearing in Dundee how the victim was attacked.
The advocate depute said: 'He was punched on the head and knocked to the ground.
'Both were seen to repeatedly punch and kick him on the head and body while he was there.
'Security and others came to assist and were pulled away.
'The incident appeared to have been brief, but [the victim] was described as being kicked and punched with force.'
The men were held and insisted they had been attacked.
Tierney claimed he had been knocked out and, when he came to, spotted Kerr fighting with others.
The victim was rushed to the hospital where his injuries included 'external internal damage' to one of his eyes.
Mr Bell said: 'He has suffered the permanent loss of vision in his right eye.'
It remains a possibility that he may need to have it removed at a later stage. He already suffered from a sight condition prior to the assault.
The man further needed extensive and expensive dental work for six broken teeth.
Mr Bell stated the ordeal has had 'life-changing consequences' for the victim.
Kerr's lawyer, David Taylor, said the former bricklayer had been in 'a spiral of decline' at the time due to a string of personal issues.
The advocate said: 'He is ashamed of his behaviour. He wishes to convey his apologies to the victim.'
Gordon Martin, defending Tierney, said it appeared in a pre-sentencing report that he was trying to 'minimise' his involvement, but that had 'not been his intention'.
Lord Renucci went on to state both were said to have 'anger management' issues and that each were 'no stranger to the courts' due to their criminal records.
The judge said: 'You have both pleaded guilty to what can only be described as a brutal, cowardly alcohol-fuelled attack on a vulnerable victim.
'The impact and consequences of your actions have been shattering to him and will be lifelong.'
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