A FOOTBALL fan punched a man on a bus before headbutting a cop on the way home after the Scottish Cup Final.

Around 11pm on May 25, 2019, the victim and Prentice with another man boarded the 240 bus at Buchanan Street to take them home to Motherwell.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard they had been watching the football on the day of the 2019 Scottish Cup Final between Hearts and Celtic.

About 20 minutes later the victim went to the back of the bus where Prentice was sitting.

CCTV footage shows the victim shouting something before going back to his seat.

He then returned to the rear of the bus and punched Prentice to the face.

Prentice then grabbed at his face and began to punch him repeatedly on the head.

A fight broke out that involved the third man who had boarded the bus with Prentice and the victim.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard the three men were falling into nearby seats and failing to land blows on one another.

Members of the public tried to intervene and the accused and the other man got off the bus.

Police were called and officers noticed the victim had significant swelling below his left eye and a small cut that was bleeding.

He was checked over at hospital but then discharged.

Officers traced Prentice shortly after midnight but as an officer tried to put handcuffs on him, he headbutted the constable to the face.

The 40-year-old was then taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary for medical treatment.

His defence brief said he had watched CCTV of the incident and described the bus as "a rowdy night bus with abuse going up and down the aisle."

He added: "[The charges] read worse than it appears on the CCTV.

"The worst punch is the punch to the accused.

"This behaviour is utterly unimpressive coupled with his record - he has long standing issues with the police that are most unfortunate in this case."

The lawyer said Prentice and his partner are going through IVF and the court was asked to lean towards a non-custodial sentence to allow for this to continue.

The court heard he is already subject to a community payback order and is already carrying out unpaid work.

Sheriff Diana McConnell said: "Taking account of your record and assaulting that man and then assaulting a police officer is extremely serious, especially with the background of your record.

"I have to say, having had serious consideration whether a custodial sentence is the only option in your case, I have been persuaded to an alternative given your domestic situation."

Sheriff McConnell was unable to place Prentice on a tag due to an issue with his current address and the case was set to be recalled.