A DELIVERY driver having a "bad day" gouged the eye of a building site worker, a court has heard.

Allan Holland previously pleaded guilty to attempting to punch the man, gouging his eye and scratching him to the face, all to his injury.

The 50-year-old returned to Dumbarton Sheriff Court on September 12 for sentencing but will avoid punishment for months.

Fiscal depute Corey Laouadi told the court that on March 8, 2022, Holland went as a delivery driver to the Allander Sports Complex in Milngavie Road, Bearsden.

There were building works underway and a man working as logistics manager was on site.

Holland was told to go through the building site to access a property but the delivery driver was seen to be unhappy.

The worker led Holland to the rear of the site and helped offload the delivery.

But at some point, the driver got out of the vehicle and thought the worker was shouting at him.

He told the driver that he was speaking to someone else.

Holland, of Castle Court, Kirkintilloch, ran towards the worker and tried to punch him.

The man dodged the punch and grabbed the accused by the arms to prevent him launching further attacks.

But Holland gouged the left eye of the victim before getting in his van and driving off.

When police confronted the attacker, he claimed he was the victim, but then declined to make a formal complaint.

The victim suffered swelling and redness to the left eye. He made a full recovery.

When he appeared for sentencing, Holland's defence solicitor moved to reassure the court that his client did admit the offence and there was no self-defence argument, despite what he told social workers.

"It is not self-defence, and in my opinion, I'm confident the plea has been entered properly," he said.

He said his client was a father of five and grandfather of seven and had a "good work ethic".

The lawyer said Holland has been a mechanic, then an HGV driver and "has enjoyed that".

He said: "It's a matter of regret that this incident occured. It's not something he is proud of or happy about."

Sheriff James Mulgrew interjected: "People at work should not be assaulted."

He said the assault was down to "Mr Holland having a bad day it would appear".

The sheriff told the attacker: "This is a very good [social work] report after an unfortunate event.

"People at their work should not be assaulted."

He put Holland on a structured deferred sentence, which will involve social workers for three months.

And he advised the man to save up some money ahead of the next court hearing in December in case he was ordered to pay compensation to his victim.