AN amateur boxer who carried out a violent attack on a man at a Balloch nightclub has been spared a prison sentence.

Bonhill resident Alexander Savage – also known as Xander – repeatedly punched his victim on the head and kicked him on the body in the assault at Desire in Balloch Road on September 8 last year.

The 20-year-old boxer previously told the Reporter he would have probably ended up “in jail” had he not taken up the combat sport.

He said in May of this year: “I was always fighting at school. I found it hard to concentrate.

“I was a young boy with a lot of pent up anger. I didn’t know how to control it. Looking back, it’s stupid how I behaved. I had a bit of a reputation as a thug (I hate to say the word).”

He added: “If I hadn’t have found martial arts and boxing, I’d probably be in jail to be honest.”

But the dad-of-one appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday for sentencing after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to a charge of assault.

A social work report on Savage was requested at that previous hearing.

Savage’s solicitor, Nick Nimmo, told the court: “Yet again this was a matter which involved alcohol.

“I have viewed CCTV footage of the incident and a number of other individuals appear to have been involved, but none appear on this complaint – I assume because they have not been traced.

“He has provided a letter of apology to the complainer, and it is clear he feels deeply remorseful for what has happened.

“The complainer suffered minor cuts and bruising.”

Sheriff William Gallacher replied: “That’s down to good fortune, rather than anything else.

“There was a prolonged aspect of violence to his behaviour, without provocation or justification at all.

“It was so disgraceful that I gave serious thought to whether I could avoid sending Mr Savage to custody.

“I think I can, but that will involve a collection of other things.”

Turning to address Savage directly, the sheriff added: “Your decision to become involved in acting out violence in a sustained manner is one the courts have a responsibility to protect the community from.

“The community at large suffered from this, and I will make an order that you give back to the community. I need you to grasp fully that you cannot behave in this way.”

Savage also admitted a separate charge of giving false details to police on the same day.

Sheriff Gallacher imposed a CPO under which Savage will be supervised by social workers for 18 months, and ordered him to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work by February 2019.

He also imposed a ‘restriction of liberty order’ which will confine Savage to his home address on the Ladyton estate in Bonhill between 7pm and 7am every night for two months.

Savage was told to return to court on October 24 for a review of the order.