Thug chased man in Bridgeton after he was kicked out The Scotsman

On August 4, 2020, the victim was drunk and going around the Bridgeton area throwing bottles at strangers and challenging them to a fight.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that around 9.30pm the man ran in to The Scotsman Bar but was ejected by staff.

As he was put out on to Main Street, he was confronted by Joseph Nelson and two other men who chased him.

Nelson then assaulted the victim by punching him to the head.

The man was found by residents lying on the ground and calling for help.

Police were called to the scene and quickly found Nelson, from Tollcross, nearby.

The 28-year-old’s defence brief said there was “a lot of” CCTV evidence in the case.

He said: "The complainer was going around the area of Bridgeton drunk and throwing bottle at people.

"He had been involved in two previous incidents that evening behaving in a destructive way.

"He was seen standing in the middle of the road challenging random passersby to fight.

"[The CCTV] is quite graphic."

The lawyer added: "It began as self-defence but he went beyond that and he accepts that.

"He has simply lost his patience and his temper in this way."

The court heard Nelson is now living with his partner who said she was happy for tagging equipment to be installed in her house.

But the sheriff chose not to order a tag.

Sheriff Allan McKay said: "You weren't acting in self defence, there was an element of provocation but that all falls away when the guy ran off.

"You should not have chased him."

As a direct alternative to jail, Nelson was placed on a community payback order with one year's supervision.

He was told to undertake alcohol counselling as his supervising officer directs.

Nelson also has to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work and he dodged a restriction of liberty order due to having been under a court imposed curfew while awaiting sentence.

Sheriff McKay called for a review of the order in three months to ensure Nelson is complying.