Armed attacker who tried to kill homeless man with baseball bat jailed

An armed attacker who tried to murder a homeless man in a brutal attack with a baseball bat has been jailed for nine years and four months.

A judge told Campbell Brett: “This was a violent attack on a sleeping, defenceless complainer. His injuries were life threatening and life changing.”

Lord Ghosh said at the High Court in Edinburgh: “On any view you were utterly reckless as to the consequences of your attack.”

The judge said there was no provocation prior to the murder bid carried out by Brett on the victim.

He told the 24-year-old: “There is no evidence that you tried to help the complainer or that you called for medical help.”

The judge said that Brett would have faced a 14-year jail term for the offence if he had not pleaded guilty.

Lord Ghosh also ordered that Brett should be under supervision for a further three year period when he will be on licence and can be returned to prison if he breaches it.

Brett, a prisoner, earlier admitted assaulting the man to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment, to the danger of his life, and attempting to murder him at a Tesco Metro store at Tomnahurich Street, in Inverness, while he was asleep, by repeatedly striking him on the head with the bat on July 13 this year.

The 45-year-old victim was sleeping beside others next to the store when Brett, who has previous convictions for violence and is assessed as a high risk of reoffending, launched the unprovoked attack in the early hours.

Prior to the murder bid, Brett had been drinking heavily and the victim mentioned that he once threatened to stab him with a pair of scissors.

Brett walked off but was later caught on CCTV walking back to where the men were sleeping outside the shop premises, armed with a baseball bat.

Advocate depute Natalie McCartney said: “He drew the bat back and struck [the victim] with significant force on the head.”

The prosecutor said that when the weapon was later recovered it was splintered as a result of the force used in the attack.

One of the other men awoke and yelled at Brett and the attacker left but then returned and asked: “Is he dead yet?”

Police were alerted and Brett walked up to officers and said: “It was me. I done it.”

He was interviewed and indicated that he had been annoyed with the earlier comment the man had made about the scissors.

The victim sustained multiple fractures to the skull and face and a brain bleed. He underwent extensive surgery and was placed in an induced coma.

He is now able to speak only in short sentences and can answer basic questions and is very confused. He has no feeling down the left side of his body and will require significant rehabilitation.

Defence counsel Lisa Gillespie KC said that Brett has since spoken of his regret and remorse for his actions and recognised that he has caused serious harm to the victim.

She said Brett suffered adverse childhood experiences and childhood trauma and had been placed in foster care.

She told the court: “He is now in a steady relationship and is engaged to be married.”