Man who struck and disfigured Aberdeen player with seat could face jail time

A man has been warned he may face jail time after he left an Aberdeen football player with a serious injury and permanent facial disfigurement by throwing a seat onto the pitch.

David Gowans, 31, threw the projectile onto the pitch following a league match between Aberdeen and Dundee United at Tannadice on 17 May.

It struck Aberdeen's Jack MacKenzie in the face, leaving him with a "deep 2in laceration" to his left eyebrow and a "5cm abrasion" below his left eye.

The player had gone to the area of the pitch in front of the travelling Aberdeen FC fans to thank them for their support, following a 2-1 defeat.

The court was shown CCTV footage of the incident, which showed MacKenzie lying on the pitch receiving medical attention. He was later taken off the pitch in a wheelchair.

Gowans admitted culpable and reckless conduct last month.

Prosecutor Lee Corr told Dundee Sheriff Court that on the day of the incident, Gowans sent text messages to Aberdeen FC supporters liaison officer Lynne Fiske, in which he admitted he had thrown the seat.

In one message, which was shown to the court, the father-of-one said he "wasn't aiming at anything or anyone" and that the section of seat had just been "there right next to me".

He described it as "a disastrous mistake".

Ms Fiske advised him to turn himself into the police, but Gowans did not and was arrested and charged a couple of days later. He was also given a lifetime ban by Aberdeen FC.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael told Gowans on Friday: "Your behaviour resulted in a severe injury and permanent disfigurement to one of the players.

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"When all of this is taken together, the custodial threshold has been passed."

However, he said he would delay sentencing to allow background reports to be compiled.

He later added that: "These reports may well provide possible alternatives to a custodial sentence, but all options for sentencing will likely remain open."

Gowans will be sentenced on 12 January next year.

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