A thug from Airdrie who attacked his brother with a broken bottle narrowly escaped a prison sentence. Aiden Oakes, aged 21, repeatedly struck his brother with the sharp glass, while Owen Clarke, aged 23, punched the victim during the incident. The two assailants, both residing on Aitken Street, Airdrie, were handed a two-year supervision order at Hamilton Sheriff Court.
As part of their sentence, Oakes has been assigned 200 hours of unpaid work and will be under electronic tagging, confined to his home from 7 pm to 7 am for 10 months. Clarke will have to perform 160 hours of unpaid work and undergo electronic monitoring for nine months. The brothers pleaded guilty to assaulting the victim, causing him severe injuries at Glen Tower in Motherwell on March 6, the previous year, while they were out on bail for other offenses.
The victim received medical treatment at Wishaw General Hospital for head and body wounds, requiring an unspecified number of stitches. Oakes also admitted to spitting on a female companion of the victim during the incident in the lift. The court heard that following an argument at a flat in Glen Tower, the violence ensued outside the lift in the early hours.
A CCTV operator alerted the police, leading to the arrest of the accused shortly after the assault. Despite the severity of the attack, the victim has reportedly forgiven his brother and provided a supportive letter to the court. Both assailants have been remorseful for their actions, as highlighted during the court proceedings.
Insights:
Violence between family members can have long-lasting and damaging effects on relationships and individuals involved. It is crucial for perpetrators to be held accountable for their actions, while also receiving appropriate support and rehabilitation to prevent future incidents. The forgiveness shown by the victim towards the attacker is a sign of hope for reconciliation and healing within the family unit, indicating the possibility of redemption and growth even after such traumatic events.