Cori Kealey, 18, punched pensioner in the face leaving him with life threatening injury in Glasgow's Gorbals

A teenager punched a pensioner once to the face and left him with a life threatening head injury.

Cori Kealey, 18, pounced on the 70-year-old in Glasgow’s Gorbals on September 4 2023.

Kealey lashed out at the man after they had an argument on the street.

The youth struck him, causing him to fall to the ground and hit his head off the pavement.

He suffered a number of horrific injuries including a blot clot near the brain and a fractured skull.

The victim was kept in hospital for eight months where he was unable to swallow and fed through a tube directly to his stomach.

He is unable to live independently and requires help from a hospital or care facility.

Kealey pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to the assault to the man’s severe injury, permanent impairment and danger of life.

The court heard that the two strangers had a brief argument which the pensioner continued by waving his arms in the air.

Kealey then ran across the road towards the man.

Prosecutor Jenny Reid said: “Kealey punched him once to the face which caused [the man] to hit his head on the concrete pavement.”

Kealey then walked away from the scene while members of the public tended to the victim.

CCTV was used to trace Kealey who was found at his grandparents house and he was arrested.

He replied to caution and charge: “So does that mean I don’t get out, I mean no comment.”

The pensioner was taken to hospital in the meantime.

Ms Reid said: “[The victim] sustained a subdural blood clot, bleeding in the space surrounding the brain, a skull fracture and a fracture to his sinus bone.”

He was sedated and ventilated at hospital before he underwent an emergency surgery to remove the blood clot.

Ms Reid added: “The neurosurgeon confirmed that the operation was carried out due to the life threatening nature of the blood clot.”

Medics stated in November 2023 that the pensioner would remain in hospital for another six months.

He was unable to swallow at the time and was being fed by a tube directly into his stomach.

Ms Reid said: “They also confirmed that upon his discharge from hospital, he will not be able to live independently and will require ongoing supervision at hospital or a care facility.”

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month.

Kealey, of the city’s Baillieston, was granted bail meantime.