Pole attack promoter avoids jail

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Boxing promoter Barry Hughes has avoided a jail term for attacking a man with a pole in a Glasgow nightclub.

Hughes was given 150 hours' community service after he admitted punching, kicking and hitting Christopher Boyle with a pole in Byblos in December.

Hughes' friend Jamie Bryce was handed the same sentence after admitting assaulting the 22-year-old.

A third man, Allan Eadie, was jailed for three years and nine months for stabbing Mr Boyle.

Judge Lord Brailsford said he accepted the trio had been provoked by Mr Boyle.

Trouble flared when Hughes, 30, and his wife attended a birthday party in the nightclub on 6 December.

Hughes, from Renfrewshire, claimed Mr Boyle started the fight by "growling" at him and punching him in the face in a VIP room.

I accept that there were elements of provocation and that the whole circumstances were unusual Judge Lord Brailsford

The court heard how he and 26-year-old Bryce, along with others, chased Mr Boyle out of the VIP area and attacked him.

The victim tried to run away but was caught and stabbed in the face and stomach by 31-year-old company director Eadie, from Glasgow.

Advocate depute, Kevin McCallum, prosecuting, said: "Mr Boyle was struck on a number of occasions by Hughes and Bryce, both while standing up and once he had fallen to the ground.

"Once in the fire corridor area, Mr Eadie then struck Mr Boyle with a knife on the left side of his face and on the right side of his abdomen.

"Mr Boyle managed to run."

Defence counsel Paul McBride, QC, said Hughes had effectively been under "house arrest" for six months because of his 1900 to 0700 BST curfew.

'Repay debt'

Lord Brailsford told Hughes and Bryce he had reduced the sentence from 200 hours because they pled guilty.

"I accept that there were elements of provocation and that the whole circumstances were unusual," said the judge.

"This is not a case which necessitates the imposition of a custodial sentence.

"I consider this can be dealt with properly by a sentence of community service. This will enable both of you to repay the debt to society."

The judge told Eadie he had reduced the sentence from five years because he also admitted the offence.

"You used a weapon to strike a blow that was life-threatening," he said.

"However I am also prepared to accept the factors in mitigation.

"While I cannot ignore the significance of the use of a knife I can treat it at the less serious end of the scale."