A 21-YEAR-OLD man has been told he is lucky not to be facing a murder charge after knocking a man unconscious with a single punch – to his permanent disfigurement and danger is his life.

Selkirk Sheriff Court heard Robert Ashe – whose address was given as Westloch Farm, Edinburgh – assaulted his victim at The Valley in Selkirk on November 21 last year.

Ashe was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and given a six-month home curfew, which means he cannot leave his address between 8pm and 6am.

Sheriff Peter Paterson told Ashe he was fortunate that he was not facing a murder charge.