Man who assaulted OAP in Dundee cycle rage attack jailed
A "super angry" man who assaulted two fellow cyclists in Dundee has been jailed for two and a half years.
Graeme Brankin chased after a 72-year-old man on his bike before hitting him so hard his eye socket and cheekbone were fractured.
The 49-year-old attacked the pensioner following an argument about right of way on the city's High Street, before carrying out a similar attack on another man 11 months later.
He was jailed for 30 months.
Brankin denied carrying out the two assaults, but was found guilty following a trial at Dundee Sheriff Court.
The first attack took place on 2 September 2013, when he became involved in a row with fellow cyclist Keith Walker in the city centre.
Brankin called his victim "blind" and "stupid", and followed him before striking up a second argument.
Brankin hit Mr Walker so hard that his vitim's glasses and hearing aid fell off, and he fell to the ground. Mr Walker needed three metal plates inserted into his face as a result of the attack.
Almost a year later, on 9 August 2014, Brankin carried out a similar attack on Alastair Bruce in Claypotts Park.
Mr Bruce told how the "super angry" cyclist had screamed at him and punched him in the face repeatedly, knocking him unconscious. A witness had to place Mr Bruce in the recovery position as Brankin cycled off.
Brankin, described in court as a prisoner at HMP Perth, denied charges of assault to severe injury and assault to injury, but was convicted unanimously by a jury after less than half an hour of deliberation.
His defence agent said the father of four had been "undergoing anger management courses in prison", and was "aware that these are matters he requires to address".
Sheriff George Way jailed Brankin for a total of 30 months, and imposed a 12-month supervised release order meaning he will be monitored when he gets out of jail.
He said: "You say it wasn't you that carried out the offences against Mr Walker - but the jury found you guilty.
"It was a very serious assault on an elderly man which had very serious consequences.
"A custodial sentence is justly merited."