A RUGBY player faces the prospect of a prison sentence after kicking a Polish national unconscious in the toilets of a nightclub.
It is the second time Ryan Hogg, 24 – who plays lock forward for Premiership Division One outfit Hawick – has been convicted of an assault in such circumstances.
In 2006, Hogg, who was named player of the tournament at Hawick Sevens last month, w
as fined £175 for assaulting a man in the toilets of a nightclub in Galashiels.
Jedburgh Sheriff Court was told that the victim was washing his hands when Hogg pushed his head against a wall, dazing him so that he fell to the ground.
Kacper Bursk remembered Hogg then said: "You smile now" as he was kicked to the head and lost consciousness. The incident was captured on CCTV.
The Crown described the assault as an "unprovoked and random attack" on a man who had been in Scotland for three years and, while also living in Poland and London, had never been in trouble.
Hogg's lawyer, Iain Burke, said an atmosphere had been created as his client had been complaining about people smoking in the nightclub and he had lost his temper. But he admitted: "It was an extreme reaction to a minor inconvenience."
Hogg admitted assault at Base nightclub in Baker Street, Hawick, on 4 August last year. It emerged he had previous convictions for culpable and reckless conduct and also an assault in the toilets of a nightclub in 2006.
Viki Welton, the procurator-fiscal, said: "As he was washing his hands the accused pushed the complainer's head, hitting it off the wall."
She added: "The complainer turned round and was a bit dazed and fell to the ground, where the accused kicked him to the face and said: 'You smile now.' "The complainer then lost consciousness."
She said that after a short period he woke up and there was no-one else in the toilet area.
The following day he went to Hawick Police Station and reported the attack. Ms Welton said that officers recognised Hogg from the CCTV footage as he pushed the victim's head.
The film also revealed Hogg returning to the toilet some time later with friends, clenching his fist and pretending to punch one of his friends and indicating towards the ground where the victim had been lying.
Ms Welton told the court: "The complainer has been living in Scotland for three years and never been involved in any trouble.
"It is not the position of the Crown that he was attacked because he was Polish, but the incident left him very shaken.
"He has lived in Poland and London and never been the subject to an attack."
During his interview with police, Hogg, of Hawick, admitted he had been at the nightclub, but said he could not remember the incident as he had been drinking since 5pm.
Sentence was deferred until next month.
The full article contains 496 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
