A professional gambler who inflicted horrific injuries on a Polish builder has been jailed for seven and a half years.

A professional gambler who inflicted horrific injuries on a Polish builder has been jailed for seven and a half years.

Sentencing Craig Jamieson, 27, at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lord Clarke told him: "But for the skill of the medical profession you may have been facing a charge of murder."

An earlier trial heard that Jamieson was "fired up with drink" when he attacked Patryk Mnich and punched and stamped on him.

As Ms Mnich lay unconscious Jamieson headed off to continue his night out. Building worker Mr Mnich, 22, was left badly injured after the assault and is still undergoing rehabilitation in a bid to help him cope with simple tasks.

At one stage doctors looking after the attack victim thought it was unlikely he would ever regain consciousness.

Lord Clarke told Jamieson: "Your victim is a young man who, as a result of your violence towards him, faces a life-time of very serious disablement.

"He no doubt came to this country to make a better life for himself and, indeed, to contribute to this country. You shattered any hope of that."

Jamieson, of Pilrig Heights, in Edinburgh, had denied assaulting Mr Mnich to his severe injury and permanent impairment and attempting to murder him in the street near Jamieson's home on February 3 this year.

He claimed he was not involved in the attack.

But a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh convicted him of the offence by a majority verdict. They deleted an allegation that the offence was racially aggravated.

Witnesses told the court that they heard noise in the street on the Saturday night and one said he saw a man strike another with his fist and the victim "virtually crumpled face first to the ground" before he was stamped on.

The victim was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and was initially able to communicate, but was unable to say how he had suffered his injuries.

He was found to have a small abrasion to his right temple. At one point he was sick and fell asleep.

But it was discovered that the pupil of his right eye was dilated and it was found he was not responding, indicating internal head bleeding.

Mr Mnich was unconscious and attempts were made to resuscitate him. A CT scan revealed he had suffered a fracture and haemorrhage outside the brain lining.

He was transferred to the Western General Hospital where neurosurgeons operated to relieve pressure.

He was transferred to another hospital in Edinburgh earlier this summer for rehabilitation work, where he currently remains. Efforts are being made to improve his ability to do simple tasks, like feeding and grooming himself, and to try and help his balance.

Doctors hope that at some stage he will be transferred to near his home town in Poland.

Jamieson has a previous conviction for assault and was jailed for 18 months for a drugs offence.

Defence QC Frances McMenamin said that "drink was a factor" but that Jamieson was already trying to turn his life around and seeking help while in custody.

The lawyer described Jamieson as an intelligent man with the support of girlfriend and family. "Clearly he has a lot of talent and his descent into criminal activity makes very sad reading indeed," she told the court.

Jamieson claimed he made up to £1000 a week as a professional gambler betting mainly on football matches, but also playing some poker.

He said he also played semi-professional football for an East of Scotland League side as a goalkeeper.

Jamieson said he had returned from England to play a match that day before meeting up with teammates later at a city centre venue where he was drinking half pints of lager before going on to vodka and Red Bull.

He said the plan was to return home by taxi and get changed before going back out that night.

Jamieson claimed as he went to his flat he heard raised voices and saw a man standing in the road and another lying down in front of him.

He later went home and poured himself a drink and got in the shower before going to rejoin friends in the taxi.

The taxi driver later told police that Jamieson appeared agitated. Jamieson denied saying in the taxi that "the Polish bastard" went for him and he gave it to him. Jamieson told the court: "I wouldn't use the term Polish bastard."