Published: Wednesday, 6th May, 2009 4:31pm

Evil attack leaves man blind

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Sick trio left 22-year-old in a pool of blood

A MAN was left blinded and horrifically scarred in a brutal attack outside a local pub.

Gordon Brennan, 22, was standing outside the pub waiting for a friend when a gang pounced on him.

He was left lying unconscious in the street after the three men responsible fled after the sickening assault.

This week at the High Court in Glasgow, Matthew Fraser, Gary Watson and Craig Manley were all found guilty of the horrendous attack which left their victim with a prosthetic eye and scarring on his face.

The court heard Mr Brennan was outside the Clippens on September 20, last year when his attackers struck.

A bag of chips was thrown at him, then he was kicked and punched and a bottle rammed into his left eye.

The injuries to his eye were so severe surgeons had no option but to remove it. He also suffered scarring to his face in the assault.

Gary Watson, 21, of 6 Fullwood Avenue, Linwood, Matthew Fraser, 20, a prisoner in Greenock Prison, and Craig Manley, 20, of 25 Churchill Avenue, Johnstone, all denied attacking Mr Brennan by kicking and punching him and striking him with a bottle to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment.

But after trial Fraser was convicted of repeatedly punching him on the head and body, striking him with a bottle and knocking him to the ground to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment.

Watson was found guilty of throwing foodstuffs at Mr Brennan and repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body to his severe injury.

Manley, who turned up during the attack and joined in, was convicted of repeatedly kicking Mr Brennan on the head and body whereby he was rendered unconscious and repeatedly striking him on the head to his severe injury.

All three were also convicted of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

The court heard after the vicious assault all three were covered in their victim"s blood. They changed out of their bloodstained clothing and donned fresh clothing supplied by Manley.

Prosecutor Kath Harper said: 'All three accused have previous convictions.'

Judge Lord McEwan told the accused: 'It is necessary to obtain background reports on you.'

He deferred sentence until May 29.

One Linwood resident, who did not want to be named, said after the trial: 'Apparently the three boys who did it came out of a flat near the pub and you could see there was a lot of blood on the ground the next day. It is a shame for the boy.'