A teenager who starred for one of the Borders’ leading semi-junior rugby sides last season has been told he was lucky only to be standing in a sheriff court dock.
Jordan Lunt, pictured, stamped on the head and body of his victim in a pub assault.
At Selkirk on Monday, Sheriff Kevin Drummond said the kind of attack he witnessed on CCTV could easily have resulted in death.
He added: “In particular, the stamping that can kill.”
Lunt, 18, of Sentry Knowe, Selkirk, pleaded guilty to repeatedly punching, kicking and stamping on the head and body of David Lewis to his injury at Angus O’Malley’s and The Valley in Selkirk on March 9.
A not-guilty plea to assaulting a woman by kicking her on the head to her injury was accepted by the Crown.
Defending, Robert More said background reports prepared by social workers had recommended a fine be imposed, but even he admitted that was “not appropriate”.
He said: “It was a very, very bad incident. The injuries sustained were surprisingly minor. He is fortunate to be where he is today.”
A previous hearing was told that Lunt had been watching rugby and had been approached by the victim who he did not know and said he had tried to cuddle him.
Passing sentence on Lunt, who played for Selkirk Youth Club last season, Sheriff Drummond said: “We all saw the CCTV of the night of the assault which you carried out.
“Perhaps the most surprising thing arising from that for you and your victim is the relatively-low level of injury which has resulted.
“We have seen in more than one case an assault like that causes death or permanent impairment with that kind of kicking that went on.
“You are in one sense a very fortunate young man.
“I can treat this as a non- custodial matter, although you will bear in mind your over-indulgence in alcohol.”
Lunt was given a community payback order involving 216 hours’ unpaid work.