TWO thugs who carried out a sustained and vicious attack on a man at a Dumbarton nightspot have been ordered to carry out unpaid work as a punishment.

Dylan Molloy and Kyle Furphy repeatedly punched their victim on the head and body, causing him to fall to the ground and leaving him injured, at Cheers in Riverside Lane two days before Christmas.

The pair were sentenced at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Thursday after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to assaulting their victim to his injury on December 23, 2017.

Molloy, 19, of Braehead in Bonhill, and 21-year-old Furphy, of Buchanan Avenue in Alexandria, were both warned any further convictions for violence would have far more serious consequences.

Background reports from social workers on both accused had been requested before Thursday’s sentencing hearing.

Molloy’s solicitor, Jonathan Paul, told the court: “He has no outstanding matters against him and no record of previous convictions.

“This is obviously a very serious matter, and he recognises that.

“He has become involved in something he shouldn’t have become involved in.

“The [social work] report identifies his own choices, but also highlights the stable factors in his life, including a supportive family and a solid long-term relationship.

“He works, and has been a useful member of the public.

“He does understand this matter is serious, but the report highlights scope for him to perform unpaid work and also a supervision element to assist him with the poor choices he has made that caused him to become involved in this incident.”

Furphy’s lawyer, Brian McGuire, said others had been involved in the incident, but acknowledged that “there was a clear ‘art and part’ involvement here”.

Mr McGuire said that since the incident almost two years ago, his client had gone to university but later left to go into work, and said he was still in full-time employment and had stopped drinking for health reasons.

Sheriff William Gallacher told the pair: “This court has a responsibility to ensure that those who are out and about enjoying themselves are not subject to acts of violence that cause injury.

“Whether either of you were the instigator of this, or whether you chose to become involved, really doesn’t matter.

“I take account of the fact that the injuries themselves were modest. I gave consideration as to whether I should differentiate between the two of you, and I don’t think I should.”

Molloy and Furphy were each ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

Sheriff Gallacher added: “I hope never to see either of you again.”