A FORMER Territorial Army soldier who assaulted a stranger in a Galashiels pub to the danger of life will be sentenced later this month.

Sheriff Peter Paterson called for a supplementary report into the possibility of mental health treatment for Brian Cassie, 30, of Beech Avenue, Galashiels.

A jury trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court heard that Colin Porteous sustained facial fractures which required major surgery and still suffers numbness to his nose, cheek and head 18 months after the unprovoked attack in the Bridge Inn in August 2013.

Cassie had lodged a special defence of a mental disorder which meant he did not appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct.

But a jury found him guilty of assaulting Mr Porteous to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement by repeatedly punching him on the head, dragging him to the ground and repeatedly kicking, stamping and jumping on his head as he lay there, rendering him unconscious.

The trial heard how, after a glass was knocked over around about 12.30am and Cassie, who had previously been staring into space and had never spoken to his victim, suddenly shouted “bomb”.

It was claimed that he reacted the same way as if a bomb had gone off in Afghanistan. The court heard from medical experts who confirmed Cassie did suffer from a mental disorder.

But prosecutor Claire Bottomley pointed to the evidence of witnesses who described how Cassie was seen running from the pub after the assault, and pointed out he had a number of alcoholic drinks on the night.

She mentioned his substance misuse and that he had been kicked out of the Territorial Army due to a failed drugs test.

The case will recall on March 30.