Ayr men kick alleged rapist in head on High Street

Sean Goudie and Sean Connelly pleaded guilty to a charge of serious assault when they appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court, where CCTV footage of the shocking attack was played.

The duo were allowed to remain at liberty after Sheriff Shirley Foran called for background reports ahead of sentencing – and after the duo’s lawyer said the victim of the attack was himself facing an allegation of rape.

Goudie, 34, and 29-year-old Connelly admitted pushing their victim on the body and punching him to the head in the attack on the High Street on February 12, 2023.

Their victim fell to the ground, striking his head, and lost consciousness after the initial attack.

But Goudie and Connelly then went on to repeatedly kick their victim in the head while he lay out cold on the ground.

Even after the victim came to and tried to stand up, the pair kicked him in the head again, leaving him severely injured and permanently disfigured.

The charge initially alleged that the duo’s attack had left their victim’s life in danger, but those words were deleted from the accusation to which Goudie and Connelly pleaded guilty.

Fiscal depute Craig Wainwright said the victim had left Harley’s Bar in nearby Nile Lane at 1.45am, but that Goudie and Connelly had followed him on to the High Street.

“Sean Goudie ran after him and pushed him to the upper body,” Mr Wainwright said.

“This caused him to step back onto the pavement

"Sean Connelly then approached him from behind and punched him to the side of the head.

"This caused [the complainer] to fall to the ground, strike his head and lose consciousness. He lay unconscious as both stood over him.

"Sean Connelly kicked him to the rear of the head. 

"Both accused walked away looking back while shouting and gesticulating, while Lee McQueen lay on the ground motionless. After 30 seconds he came to and rose to both knees.

"Both accused approached and both stood over the accused. Sean Connelly pointed in his face shouting at him, while a member of the public tried to pull Sean Goudie away.

"Despite efforts from the member of public, he gave a forceful kick to his head while still on his knees, causing him to fall to the ground.

"At this stage other members of the public approached and saw him bleeding heavily from the head.

"A bouncer from Harley's approached and Sean Goudie ran off from the locus. Police were made aware by CCTV operators and attended.

"Sean Goudie was arrested and Connelly was traced in a taxi in a nearby street, and taken to Kilmarnock police office.

"The complainer had no recollection of the incident and was conveyed to Ayr Hospital. He had one laceration wound to his temple.

"He was discharged the same day and in the opinion of the doctor the laceration will leave permanent scarring.”

The court heard Goudie was on a community payback order at the time of the incident.

Defence solicitor Tony Currie said: "This unfortunate incident occurred in a context the Crown is  aware of, and both were given the benefit of bail from first appearance.

"The background, briefly, is that the complainer at that time was subject to petition proceedings for an allegation of rape of [a woman known to] Mr Goudie.

“Unfortunately others including [the female complainer] were in Harley's Bar.

"I simply offer this as context and ask your Ladyship to continue bail."

Sheriff Shirley Foran agreed to allow both to remain at liberty and called for criminal justice social work reports ahead of sentencing.

Connelly, of Glenmuir Road, and Goudie, of Gould Street, will return to court at a later date.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service declined requests from the Advertiser to release any stills of the CCTV used in the case, citing the ongoing live criminal matters against the complainer, which are due to call at the High Court later in the year.