A TEENAGE boxer who admitted a street assault has been described at Selkirk Sheriff Court as a 'violent man when drinking'.

Aqeel Aziz pleaded guilty to assaulting a 21-year-old male at around 3.15am on August 30 at the George Craig Bridge and Asda car park in Galashiels.

The court heard that 19-year-old Aziz was with two friends and so was the victim when words were exchanged leading to Aziz punching the victim to the head and causing him to fall to the ground. The boxer then placed his arm around the man's neck and compressed it while kneeling on him.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said it was fortunate the victim was not seriously injured.

He added: "The truth is that the accused is a violent man when drinking. "I don't understand how his drinking can go along with his boxing."

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said that while his client accepted culpability for the assault, the complainer and his friends were more involved than they had made out.

He pointed out that Aziz had enjoyed success with his sporting endeavours and had now got himself a full time forestry job.

Mr Patrick said it was significant Aziz had moved away from Galashiels and distanced himself from who he had been associating with.

Sheriff Peter Paterson told Aziz it was 'difficult to reconcile how your consumption of alcohol to excess went along with the disciplines of boxing'.

Aziz of Dickson Drive, Newtown St Boswells, was given a 15 month Community Pay Back Order with supervision and told to pay £250 to the assault victim as a direct alternative to custody.