Three Rangers thugs who brutally attacked a Celtic fan outside Ibrox after an Old Firm match have been jailed.
Ben Stanex, 24, Scott Dragsness, 55, and Andrew Graham, 21, pounced on Bruce Craik earlier this year following the Scottish Cup tie which saw Celtic win on penalties.
Mr Craik was ushering fellow fans onto a supporters bus on March 8 when he was rounded upon by a rival mob including the trio.
The group hurled a sectarian slur at Mr Craik before he was punched by Stanex, from Belfast, who then repeatedly stamped on his head.
Dragsness, also of Belfast, and Graham, from Dundonald, then joined and kicked Mr Craik to the body.
The stricken victim was left unconscious and was later found to have suffered a bleed to the brain.
Ben Stanex, from Belfast, repeatedly stamped on Bruce Craik's head
Andrew Graham, from Dundonald, then joined and kicked Mr Craik to the body
Scott Dragsness pled guilty as did Graham and Stanex
Stanex, Dragsness and Graham pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to the assault to Mr Craik’s severe injury and danger of life.
The offence was aggravated by prejudice related to religion or perceived religious affiliation.
Sheriff Andrew McIntyre jailed Stanex and Graham for a period of one-year each. Dragsness was handed an 18-month sentence.
The sheriff told them: ‘Violence and football related violence is a serious cause for concern in this city.
‘The law recognises that it is all the worse when it is driven by prejudice related to religious or affiliation.
‘Each of you were involved in a concerned act of serious violence as part of a group to assault the victim after a football match.
‘As part of the attack, he was punched and he fell to the ground and while on the ground the attack continued.
‘He was repeatedly kicked to the head and body then stamped on with such ferocity that he lost consciousness to his severe injury.
‘To inflict such violence on someone poses and obvious danger to life.
‘I have concluded that only a prison sentence can mark the seriousness of this crime and I am satisfied there is no other sentence available in the circumstances.
‘I have concluded that a prison sentence is necessary to protect the public and deter others from offending in future.’
All three were given seven-year football banning orders. It means they cannot visit any football ground in the UK and they are barred from travelling to support any team.
Michael Anderson KC, defending Stanex, told the sentencing that alcohol played a part in his offending.
Thomas Ross KC, defending Dragsness, said the offence was ‘out of character’ for his client.
And Graeme Brown KC, defending Graham, told the court that the offence was not pre-planned or pre-meditated.
Following the sentence Fraser Gibson, of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: ‘Football-related violence is a blight on Scotland’s communities. It will not be tolerated.
‘The victim in this case was subjected to mindless sectarian thuggery by the three accused, who were visitors to the city.’
