A DRUNKEN drugged-up thug kicked an 80-year-old man unconscious as he was on his way to visit to his dead wife's grave.

Andrew Hendry, 20, had washed down Valium and cocaine with Buckfast, vodka and Dragon Soop before launching the unprovoked attack, stripped to the waist, kicking the elderly man sixteen times to the head, in Tullibody.

Hendry, who appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Tuesday, April 20, by videolink from prison, held his head in his hands as a sheriff said he was "almost speechless at your depravity".

Cheryl Clark, prosecuting, said the complainer had woken up about 5am on March 13, this year, got dressed, and had headed to Tullibody Cemetery – a routine he had followed ever since his wife died in 1999.

About 5.30am he was walking along Stirling Road, Tullibody, half a mile from the graveyard, when Hendry – described as "intoxicated, topless, and staggering around in an aggressive manner" – began walking behind him, raising his arms as if to try to get his attention.

The complainer turned round and engaged briefly with Hendry – a stranger – before turning his back and starting to walk away.

Ms Clark said: "The accused then approached [him] and punched him twice to the head.

"[The complainer] remained on his feet, and tried to defend himself by holding his arms over his head.

"The accused then proceeded to kick [him] in the head five times – the fifth time knocking him to the ground.

"The accused then kicked him in the head seven more times, plus to the body.

"He then stood over him shouting in his face.

"The complainer began to sit up, and the accused punched him in the head, causing him to fall back on the ground.

"He then kicked him a further four times on the head.

"The third of these kicks appeared to knock him unconscious."

Seconds earlier, a woman whose home overlooked the scene had heard a "banging" and had looked out to witness Hendry banging his head off a bus stop, before following the complainer.

He was screaming at the elderly man: "What's your problem? Do you want a go?"

The woman then saw the attack begin, and ran out to his aid.

Ms Clark said: "She approached the accused to separate him from the complainer and heard him shouting: 'I'm Andrew Hendry, and you should know me'."

She began trying to calm Hendry down, while she was doing so police arrived and Hendry was arrested.

He was bleeding from the forehead and said he recalled being in Tron Court, earlier, and putting his head through a window.

Ms Clark said: "He was able to advise that he had consumed Valium and cocaine, and had been drinking Buckfast, Dragon Soop and vodka, prior to the events unfolding.

"He could not recall the full events, but he kept saying: 'I know it's serious, I've done something, I know I've done it, I've got a feeling'."

He added: "I'm going to the jail for this. He's an older person. I never meant for this to happen."

The complainer was taken to hospital with two black eyes – one swollen shut – a nose so bruised he could not put on his glasses, and tenderness to his chest.

Ms Clark said: "Physically, he had been left with no long-term damage; however, mentally, the incident has left him traumatised. He's been frightened to get back out and about.

"It's only been in the last few days that he's felt able to leave his home, but he's completely changed his day routine."

She said he now only went out when the streets were busy, and didn't feel safe walking alone any other time.

Hendry, of Alloa, admitted assault to the danger of life, having been originally charged with attempted murder.

Sheriff Derek Hamilton deferred sentence until May 18 for reports, and continued his remand.

He said he would view CCTV of the incident at the sentencing hearing.

He added: "I'm speechless, almost, at the depravity of some of your behaviour."

Hendry's solicitor, Ms Kelly Howe, said she would reserve mitigation.