Jailed ex-Livi keeper allowed to play football at weekends

Jul 30 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A SHAMED former Livingston Football Club goalkeeper is out on day release from prison to play for a junior football club less than two years after he was jailed for attempted murder.

Craig Jamieson was jailed for seven-and-a-half years in September 2007 after a vicious assault that left a young man facing a lifetime of “very serious disablement”.

In a drink-fuelled rage the former Livi keeper stamped on a Polish builder’s head, leaving him badly disabled and with brain damage.

His victim Patryk Mnich, 24, faces a lifetime of pain and can only walk by using a Zimmer frame.

But less than two years after being sentenced Jamieson is now being let out of jail to play for a top junior side.

The 29-year-old has been moved to Castle Huntly open prison near Dundee and has been signed by Carnoustie Panmure, who play in the East Region Premier League and won the Scottish Junior Cup in 2004.

He was signed by the club in April and on Saturday he played the first 45 minutes of the pre- season friendly against Deveronvale at Laing Park.

Jamieson is on work placement at Carnoustie’s ground where he helps out with looking after the pitch. Reliance officers drop him off at the ground in the morning but twice a week teammates pick him up at the prison for training.

Livingston MSP Angela Constance said it was essential offenders underwent supervised rehabilitation before being released.

She said: “This was a shockingly violent offence. Prison is the best place for serious violent offenders but as well as punishment prison should be about changing the behaviour of offenders who present a serious risk to the community.

“Therefore its imperative that prisoners are rehabilitated under supervision prior to their release.

“What this case underlines is that the Scottish Executive is right to propose a sentencing council which will ensure greater consistency, fairness and transparency in sentencing.

“As the offender in this case was under the influence of alcohol it also highlights that the Scottish Executive is right to propose radical measures to curb alcohol abuse.”

Jamieson played with Livingston’s under 18 squad between 1997 and 1999 before turning to professional gambling.

His trial in 2007 heard that Jamieson had been “fired up with drink” when he attacked Mr Mnich in the Pilrig area of Edinburgh, punching and stamping on him.

And as Mr Mnich lay unconscious Jamieson headed off to continue his night out.

After the brutal attack Mr Mnich was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where it was discovered he had suffered a fracture and haemorrhage outside the brain lining.

He was then transferred to Edinburgh’s Western General where neurosurgeons operated to relieve pressure.

Doctors treating the Polish worker thought at one point he would never regain consciousness and he is still undergoing rehabilitation to help him cope with simple tasks.

Sentencing Jamieson, Lord Clarke said: “But for the skill of the medical profession you may have been facing a charge of murder.”