Regulars ran from a pub at one o’clock in the morning to save a barman from an assault, a court heard last Thursday (2 October).

They arrived to find teenagers Kai Austin and Matthew Troy battering the man, who was attacked in his home in what Stirling Sheriff Court was told was “almost a hamesucken”.

Austin and Troy, both 18, had to be physically restrained by the pub-goers, from the Village Inn in Dunblane, until police arrived to arrest them.

The court heard that the incident began at 12.55am when the manageress of the Village Inn heard Austin and Troy making a noise outside her flat, which is beside the pub.

Her partner, Christopher MacLeod, rapped on the window in order to tell them to be quiet, and the manageress went downstairs to talk to them.

David McDonald, prosecuting, said: “She attempted to remonstrate with them, but was unable to do so because both of them were shouting phrases such as ‘get him down here’.” Mr MacLeod (30) then heard “banging” and also began to make his way downstairs.

The depute fiscal said: “The lock of the door was broken. Mr Troy entered the flat and made his way up the stairs and body-charged Mr MacLeod, who at this time had picked up a golf club from the stairwell.

“Mr MacLeod pushed Mr Troy back to the front door.

“There he was then assaulted by both accused, who repeatedly punched him on the head and body. The golf club fell from Mr MacLeod’s hands.

“Patrons from the Village Inn pub, alerted by the sounds of the disturbance, attended at the locus and took hold of both accused.

“The police were contacted, and further patrons from the bar made their way to the alley.

“At this point Mr Troy spat at Mr MacLeod, and the spittle landed on his hooded top.” Mr McDonald said that both accused were shouting and swearing, and had to held back from running at Mr MacLeod by the people from the bar.

He said: “The police ultimately arrived and both accused were apprehended and taken to the local police station.

“They were interviewed, and Mr Troy made full and frank admissions.

“Mr Austin couldn’t recollect much of the incident, having been under the influence of alcohol.

“The injury to Mr MacLeod was quite limited, and was noted as redness and swelling to his face.” The depute fiscal added: “It appears superficially to be almost a hamesucken, but it appears that the door lock was broken at the time.” Hamesucken is the ancient Scots law offence of invading a person’s house, and assaulting him there.

Austin, of Springfield Court, and Troy, of Cross Cottage, The Cross, both Dunblane, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr MacLeod to his injury, and committing a breach of the peace.

The incident, at Stirling Road, Dunblane, happened on 12 April 2014.

Solicitor-advocate George Pollock, for Austin, said: “Mr MacLeod was banging on the window, and this was see as some sort of challenge.” Defence agent Lara Thomson, for Troy, said there had been “no history of animosity” between him and Mr MacLeod, whom Troy knew only as someone who had served him alcohol in the bar.

Sheriff William Gilchrist fined Austin £360, and ordered Troy to perform 100 hours of unpaid work.

He told Troy: “I am treating you somewhat differently because you’re the person who forced your way into the house.” The court also heard that Troy was unemployed, while Austin was now in a job.