WebsiteA man who fractured another man’s skull with a clawhammer after claiming he had stolen jogging bottoms and trainers from him has been jailed for 16 months.
Jarno Morrison, 46, turned on Daniel Whitelaw at a shop in the north east of Glasgow on July 24 last year.
Morrison accused Mr Whitelaw of stealing his trainers and jogging bottoms the day before.
Morrison pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to the assault to Mr Whitelaw’s severe injury.
He also admitted the possession of a claw hammer in a public place without a reasonable excuse.
The court heard Morrison and his partner Tracy Hamilton were drinking alcohol with Whitelaw at their house the previous day.
Morrison fell asleep amid claims Mr Whitelaw had stolen from him and took no further action.
Ms Hamilton and another person attended the nearby shop on Cumbernauld Road the next day and bumped into Mr Whitelaw.
Prosecutor Claire Wallace said: “He was noted to be wearing trainers belonging to the accused.”
Ms Hamilton sent the other person to fetch Morrison who attended the shop armed with a black handled clawhammer.
Ms Wallace said: “The accused brandished the hammer and he began striking him on the head with the claw end.
“This resulted in three injuries to Mr Whitelaw.
“The accused also struck him multiple times with the blunt end of the clawhammer.”
Members of the public intervened and separated the pair.
Police officers later found Morrison in his home and he was arrested.
Mr Whitelaw was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary meantime for treatment to two wounds on his scalp which required three stitches and glue.
Ms Wallace added: “A CT scan revealed a 1.5mm skull fracture and was put under observation.”
Paul McCormick, defending, told the court Morrison’s Amazon Kindle tablet, trainers, jogging bottoms and £120 in cash went missing.
The lawyer said: “The trainers and jogging bottoms were fairly new and Mr Whitelaw was wearing both the following day in the shop.
“Mr Morrison heard about this immediately and took the hammer with him and confronted him about the items taken from his house.”
It was also revealed Morrison has previous convictions for weapons and violence.
Sheriff Ian Fleming said: “With your record, when you go out with a hammer you shouldn’t expect anything other than a custody.
“But, I will reduce the sentence in light of the background.”
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