TWO oil workers with a string of convictions for city centre violence have blamed their criminal behaviour on earning too much money.
Serial offenders Daniel Newcombe and Daniel Clark were on the brink of going to jail after they admitted carrying out a “vicious” assault on a reveller. However the duo, who both work for the same Aberdeen-based oil services company, were given one more chance after they claimed they had turned their lives around now they have started to invest their cash.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard the men both started to commit crimes as a result of having “more money than sense”.
Representing Clark, when he appeared in front of Sheriff William Summers to be sentenced, solicitor Andrew Ormiston said the wages paid by his client’s employer were “too much” for him to cope with. As a result when he returned from offshore the 22-year-old, of 90 Lewis Road, Sheddocksley, Aberdeen, would spend his cash on alcohol – which would lead to him offending.
Mr Ormiston said: “Mr Clark had too much money and not enough sense when he committed the offence. Now he is a homeowner and any excess money is being used in his new home. He has now got his life in order and he is determined to make sure this sort of behaviour doesn’t happen again.”
The most recent assault took place on May 30 last year at the Pearl Lounge. The court heard the pair acted together to punch Darren Jackson in an alcohol-fuelled row, causing him to fall to the ground.
In July 2011, Clark’s co-accused, Newcombe, was the first person in Scotland to be issued with an exclusion order by the courts.
As his offending was so serious, and always related to alcohol misuse, Newcombe, 22, was banned from entering any licensed premises in Aberdeen city centre for three months.
Representing Newcombe in court when they appeared on Friday, solicitor Ian Hingston said his client’s position was almost identical to his co-accused.
He said: “Mr Newcombe has a very disturbing and concerning catalogue of offending. He will be very lucky if he walks out of court today a free man. Much of what has been said in mitigation for Mr Clark applies here too. He earns a significant income for a young man and in simple terms he recognises he has to modify his behaviour.” Mr Hingston added Newcombe, of 59 Rona Place, Aberdeen, had shown real remorse for his actions.
He said there had been no further offending since he committed the offence in May – despite having his bail curfew lifted so he could go to T in the Park.
Sentencing, Sheriff Summers said they were on their final warning and if either committed one more offence they would be going straight to jail.
He said: “This was a thoroughly disgraceful, vicious and premeditated attack.
“You should both be thoroughly ashamed. You are extremely fortunate your victim was not more seriously injured. It is a matter of concern you appear on directly analogous offences and that the two of you contribute to matters of violence in the city centre. I recognise you have not been in trouble and have taken steps to turn your lives around.”
Clark was ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work in the community while Newcombe was ordered to carry out 140 hours as his punch did not connect with the victim.
The pair were placed under supervision for 12 months. The sheriff added: “This is your last chance. If you do not comply with this order you will be brought back before me and if that happens you will be going straight to jail.”
Last night union leaders for the oil and gas industry said it was unfair to suggest offshore workers were prone to commit crimes because of the money they spent on alcohol.
Jake Molloy, of the RMT Offshore Energy Branch, said offshore workers would be fairly rewarded for their jobs, “given the hazards that they face on a day-to-day basis and given the hours they put in”.
He added: “I don’t think it is fair to assess them in that way, and to suggest they committed offences because they were bored is a bit outlandish. They could be encouraged to do something better with their rest period than sitting in a pub but I would not agree with the comments.”
He said there could be “every chance” that the men would be dismissed following their conviction.
Oil and Gas UK said they would not comment on the remarks made in court.
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