A FIRST offender who knocked a man unconscious with one punch has avoided jail.

Ryan Beattie, 23, fractured Martin Pirog's skull outside Solid Rock Cafe in Glasgow city centre on July 20, 2020.

The single blow arose amid an apparent argument about babysitting.

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The victim - who was taken by ambulance on a spinal board - was also found to have suffered bruising and bleeding to the brain.

Beattie was found guilty by a jury at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting Mr Pirog to his severe injury and to the danger of his life.

He was remanded in custody pending background reports by sheriff John McCormick last month.

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But, he was released after he was sentenced to do 300 hours of unpaid work and tagged for nine months keeping him indoors between 7pm and 7am.

Beattie, of the city centre, was also put under supervision for 18 months.

The court heard that Mr Pirog had been in the area's Hope Street with ex-girlfriend Jade Miller and Holly Gallacher.

Prosecutor Tanjeel Maleque told jurors in his closing speech: "Miss Gallacher spoke of an argument between Jade and Beattie.

"It was about whether her boyfriend at the time babysat Beattie's children."

Miss Gallacher initially left the scene but before she returned, she "heard a punch."

Mr Maleque stated: "The pub's director Robert Alexander - who was working on the door - said that he was 100% Beattie threw the punch.

"The blow landed on the temple at the side of his head and that the victim immediately fell to the ground.

"He was taken away in an ambulance on a spinal board."

Miss Gallacher meantime told jurors that she saw Beattie shaking his hand as if a punch had been thrown.

She added that Jade then punched the attacker - bursting his lip.

Mr Maleque said: "Jade said that she saw Martin motionless on the ground."

The victim meantime stated in his evidence that he remembered waking up in hospital with a head injury.

The incident has left him "feeling more anxious" and he has been diagnosed with chronic pain.

Mr Maleque added: "He suffered a fractured skull as well as bruising and bleeding to the brain."