Thug stamped ten times on victim's head in violent Edinburgh attack

A thug who stamped on a man’s head ten times during a violent street fight has escaped a jail term.

Stamp attack case was heard at Edinburgh Sheriff Court

Nadeem Ahmed launched the savage attack on victim Gary Stevens when two groups of revellers clashed in Edinburgh city centre last year.

Ahmed, 25, claimed he confronted Mr Stevens after he overheard the man making a racial slur towards a female friend of his as the two groups passed each other.

A fight broke out between several males and after Mr Stevens had been punched to the ground Ahmed proceeded to repeatedly stamp on his head as he lay in the street.

The horror attack at the capital’s George Street was captured on CCTV and Ahmed was arrested nearby by police who had been alerted to the street fight.

Lawyer Jim Stephenson, defending, said his client had confronted his victim after overhearing the man making “an oblique reference to [the woman’s] race”.

Mr Stephenson said Ahmed had “lost it” after the comment was made and a fight broke out between the parties at around 4.20am on March 31 last year.

The brief added Ahmed was “seriously remorseful” over the incident and there had been no injury reported by Mr Stevens.

Sheriff Adrian Fraser QC acknowledged Ahmed had “a very limited record” and that the social work report was “very favourable”.

The sheriff added: “However, that doesn’t detract from the fact this was a reputed stamping on someone’s head, with all the potential dangers that could bring.

“The consequences could have been very serious indeed. But the court is satisfied there is an alternative to custody in this case.”

Ahmed, of Edinburgh, was ordered to carry out 225 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Previously fiscal depute Karima Stewart told the court Ahmed and Mr Stevens became involved in “a heated argument” as the two groups passed each other on George Street in Edinburgh on March 31 last year.

Ms Stewart said: “The accused threw a punch at Stevens who then stumbled. The accused ran over to the complainer and proceeded to stamp on his head a total of ten times.”

Ahmed pleaded guilty to assaulting Gary Stevens by punching him to the body and repeatedly stamping on his head at George Street, Edinburgh, on March 31 last year.

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