THE son of a prominent Labour councillor – who beat a man unconscious in a row over less than £10 – has avoided jail by the “narrowest margin”.

Connor McGinty, son of West Dunbartonshire Council’s convener of education, Councillor Michelle McGinty, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

Cllr McGinty was in court with other family members to support him.

The 18-year-old, who was 17 at the time of the offence, previously admitted punching and kicking a camper in Balloch Country Park.

The camper needed surgery to place a steel plate in his face after the attack, carried out on April 17 last year.

He pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous date, and appeared for sentencing last week.

At a previous court date, it emerged Connor McGinty had asked the camper who was attacked to buy him alcohol, and had given him money to do so.

The attack happened as the camper was walking to the shop.

His defence solicitor told the court there were “positive aspects”, and said McGinty has “taken full responsibility” for his actions.

He added “empathy” had been shown to the victim.

It was also said McGinty has “curbed his drinking”.

When discussing how the sheriff should deal with the case, a restriction of liberty order was suggested, meaning Connor McGinty would have an electronic tag and a curfew, and it was suggested this would be a further “penalty”.

His defence agent told the court the McGinty family had booked a holiday, leaving on Thursday, which would be “punishment” in itself if Connor McGinty could not go due to a restriction of liberty order.

But Sheriff Simon Pender replied: “If he was in jail he could not go.”

When sentencing the teenager, Sheriff Simon Pender said although a custodial sentence would be “clearly justified”: “This is a serious matter.

"You punched and kicked him until he was rendered unconscious and had to have surgical treatment.

“I think a custodial sentence would be clearly justified.”

However, given McGinty’s age, his guilty plea, and his “attitude and responsibility” about the incident, he was given a community payback order.

His early guilty plea did not reduce the sentence, but the sheriff said it was taken into account by not handing out a jail term for the attack.

McGinty will be supervised for two years and will have to carry out 300 hours unpaid work in the next 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay £750 compensation to the victim.

McGinty, listed in court papers as living in Allan Crescent, Alexandria, will also have to remain home between 7pm and 7am every day as part of a restriction of liberty order for the next nine months.

Sheriff Pender added: “I just want to emphasise you have come within the narrowest of margins of being sent to jail today.”

McGinty has an outstanding court case against him, where it is alleged he kicked a police officer in the head.

Cllr Michelle McGinty did not return several calls from the Reporter.