Teacher jailed for lying in Edinburgh glass attack case
A teacher has been jailed for lying about his part in a glass attack in an Edinburgh pub that left another man permanently disfigured.
John Mann, 32, from Rutherglen, had claimed during a trial in 2006 that he had accidentally glassed Mark Allison in the city's Cougar Bar.
However, CCTV footage of the attack later emerged showing Mann struck his victim without provocation.
He was jailed for two years at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for perjury.
Mann, who taught at St Aiden's High School in Wishaw, had faced an assault charge following the attack on Mr Allison in July 2005.
But a jury found him not guilty after he said he had been repeatedly hit by two people and that the injuries he inflicted on Mr Allison were accidental.
Despite his testimony, CCTV images of the incident showed Mann thrusting a glass into Mr Allison's face as he sat down, without warning or provocation.
The attack left Mr Allison permanently disfigured.
Passing sentence, Sheriff Michael O'Grady QC told Mann: "You are self evidently an intelligent man and I have no doubt you understand how serious the crime of perjury is.
"It strikes at the heart of the system of justice and in your case it was successful.
"People who come to these courts as accused or witnesses have to understand that the oath means something and if you choose to make it mean nothing consequences will follow and in my view it must be serious."