A SHOP assault thug who can't remember knocking a Greenock supermarket security guard unconscious in an 'appalling' attack whilst intoxicated on drugs has been jailed.
Roddi Stewart laid out the Tesco worker and assaulted another employee in violent attacks at the Dalrymple Street store two years ago.
Stewart, 37, had originally been accused of attacking one of the victims to the danger of his life.
Sheriff James Varney deferred sentence last month so that he could watch CCTV footage of the incident - and after viewing the video the lawman branded Stewart's actions 'frankly appalling'.
The film, played to the court, shows two hooded men walking around the store before Stewart gets involved in a struggle with two security guards.
One of the guards is forcibly struck by Stewart before falling and hitting his head off the floor.
Support local journalism by subscribing to the Greenock Telegraph HERE
His colleague is then seen rushing away from the scene briefly to get help before returning, while the injured worker is lying motionless on the floor for up to a minute.
The afternoon assault on November 12, 2021 left one of the guards in hospital after he blacked out. A doctor later confirmed that an examination revealed a ‘haematoma overlying his occipital region’.
The other man was given an ice pack for swelling to his eye after being punched by Stewart to the side of his face but declined any other medical treatment.
A previous hearing was told that the workers 'had cause to speak with' Stewart and were assaulted after approaching him.
Stewart had not guilty pleas accepted to further charges of stealing food and breaching a bail order.
Defence solicitor Gerry Keenan told the sentencing hearing: "This man was entitled to respect in his job and not to get injured in the manner he was.
READ MORE: Worker was knocked unconscious and severely injured by thug at Greenock supermarket
"[Stewart] accepts there can only be one disposal.
"What seems to have happened that day is that before he went to the store he had taken valium and he has no recollection of the incident.
"He recalls being approached by one of the workers and thereafter his recollection is poor."
Mr Keenan said Stewart 'takes full responsibility for the offences' and there is 'a substantial degree of contrition and insight, notwithstanding his level of intoxication'.
The lawyer added: "He succumbed to temptation on this occasion and he knows he is going to have to pay a heavy price for that."
Sheriff Varney said: "I have listened very carefully to the circumstances and it does not become any better when you look at the CCTV which is frankly appalling.
"[The security guard] was effectively dragged over your shoulder, punched, thrown to the ground and knocked unconscious.
"In the circumstances there can be no alternative to custody."
Stewart was sentenced to 21 months in prison backdated to September 25.
Sentence on more than a dozen other summary matters, including several breaches of bail, was deferred until November 29.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here