Thug walks free

Published 10 Dec 2009 10:12 Comments 1 Comment

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By Rosalyn Campbell

FURIOUS relatives have hit out after a thug who beat up two women walked free from court.

Violent Brian Smart (pictured) punched a pensioner with such force she lost a tooth.

He also lashed out at a younger woman punching and kicking her repeatedly on the head and body.

But last week 54-year-old Smart was punished with a FINE for his brutal actions.

And now stunned residents have contacted The Gazette to voice their disgust on the outcome - the same week a campaign to highlight violence against women came to a close.

One relative said: "He thinks he can just beat people up. He doesn't touch any men - it's always the women.

"He is a danger to females. He beats women up."

Smart, of Gibson Crescent, assaulted a family member over an alleged feud on June 22 this year.

The vicious attack took place in Floors Street, Johnstone.

Smart, who is a joiner, denied carrying out the assaults but was found guilty after a trial at Paisley Sheriff Court.

Back in the dock last week Smart was fined £1,000 by Sheriff Murray.

Defence agent Gordon Ritchie told the court there had been 'a great deal of tension' between members of the family and that since this incident, warring members have 'decided to have no more contact and nothing further to do with each other'.

He said: "It has now been accepted that the differences here are irreconcilable."

Sheriff Murray said: "These are serious offences and he has a long history of problems."

He added, however, that he was 'encouraged that this is the end' of the family feud, and fined Smart £500 for each offence, payable at £20 per week.

An acquaintance of Smart, who did not wish to be named, said that Smart's 'track record is all about women'.

He said that the two women recently assaulted by Smart 'won't talk - they're afraid of reprisal'.

He added: "I think it is terrible that all he got was £500 each.

"You hear of people getting that for not paying their TV licence.

"When it comes down to it, he assaulted a pensioner.

"They tried to say it was a family feud, but the older lady is not related to him.

"She just happened to be with the younger one, who was his main target.

"He will do it again and probably walk away with another fine.

"The whole community are shocked that all he got was a fine.

"We are supposed to look out for our old people.

"Who was looking out for this woman? Not the courts. It's a disgrace."

At the trial in November, the court heard the older woman describe how Smart jumped out the car when he saw the two women and began running towards them.

She said: "The woman I was with covered her mouth because he always says he's going to knock her teeth out."

When the pensioner tried to stop Smart attacking the other woman she said: "He punched me in the face and I fell down."

Denying that he had assaulted the women, Smart had told the court: "If I was to hit someone 15 times, her face would be like mince."

This article appeared in The Gazette 09 Dec 09

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Billy Auld
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Dec 22, 22:38
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He's always been a coward.

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