A RESTAURATEUR who fled to Spain before being sentenced for an assault in a pub more than a decade ago has been spared jail.

Andrew Malloy, 32, from Castlemilk, punched two friends in Glasgow on April 26, 2003 at Walkabout on Renfield Street.

Gary Bannerman needed seven stitches to his left eye and Stephen Burns had a swollen lip. He pled guilty in February 2005 at Glasgow Sheriff Court but fled to Salou before sentencing where he married, had children and went into business. Returning to the UK in 2010 to visit family, he was arrested, bailed and given a new date to appear at court to be sentenced, but again took off for Spain. But his luck ran out in December when he was extradited and spent Christmas behind bars. He was fined £2000 and ordered to pay £500 compensation each for the assaults.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court Malloy, in prison since December 24, pled guilty to failing to turn up for sentencing and was fined £750.