A MAN who kicked a 70-year-old pensioner to injury in Greenock and caused him to require hospital treatment has been fined.

First offender Daniel McDonald, 28, was handed the monetary penalty by a sheriff who told him that she was confident he would not offend in this way again.

McDonald, who had originally been charged on indictment along with a co-accused, admitted to kicking the OAP on the body at Ann Street.

A previous calling of the case heard from procurator fiscal depute Dana Barclay, who told the hearing that McDonald and the complainer became involved in an altercation at an address following an apparent disagreement about a mobile phone.

Neighbours were said to have observed the incident and one of them recorded it on her mobile phone before police were contacted.

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The court heard McDonald, who committed the assault on June 14 2022, was traced and charged almost a month later.

After being arrested, he told officers: "They two guys were in my close as I was going out with my dog and then my phone was gone."

The victim attended Inverclyde Royal and was diagnosed with a sprained shoulder by hospital staff as a result of the attack.

Referring to a 'very favourable' background report prepared for the sentencing hearing, McDonald's solicitor, Gerry Keenan, said: "He has never previously been involved in any way with the criminal justice system.

"He is a young man who is unlikely to ever trouble the authorities again."

Sheriff Sheena Fraser said: "What happened that particular day was something that I don't think you will repeat."

McDonald was fined £210, payable at a rate of £10 per week.