Batman and Robin attackers avoid jail

Two men have been described as being like Batman and Robin after they landed a man in hospital in Glasgow in 2023.

Richard Mat-Awotunde, 20, and Rhyenn Montassir, 18, pounced on Dilane Nziko on Glasgow city centre's Hope Street on November 15 that year.

Mr Nziko was stabbed seven times by former Mat-Awotunde while Montassir helped pin him down.

Mat-Awotunde was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court of assaulting Mr Nziko to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of life.

Montassir, of the city's Tradeston, meantime was convicted of assaulting his victim after jurors deleted the aggravations on his charge.

Sheriff Gerard Bonnar sentenced Mat-Awotunde, previously of Dalmarnock, today to 300 hours of unpaid work.

He was also put under supervision for 18 months and fined £1,040.

Montassir meantime was placed on a structured deferred sentence for six months.

The court previously heard that the fight arose amid claims Mr Nziko did not return studio equipment which belonged to Mat-Awotunde.

Mr Nziko was doing a work out a Pure Gym on Hope Street when he became aware of the two men.

Prosecutor Kyle Dalziel said in his closing speech: "Mat-Awotunde and Montassir entered the gym that night with one thing on their mind.

"They invited Mr Nziko to come outside and both men hung around the gym and followed him for 30 minutes.

"Both were seen to stand over Mr Nziko."

Mr Nziko stated in his evidence that Mat-Awotunde told him that he was going to stab him.

Mr Dalziel said to the jury: "Mr Nziko told you the other man wearing black and although he wasn't speaking he was clearly involved.

"He used the analogy Batman and Robin."

The men went on to push and restrained Mr Nziko to the ground.

Mat-Awotunde then repeatedly struck him on the body with a screwdriver.

Mr Dalziel said: "He had seven small stab wounds - he presented in hospital with reduced air entry to the left side of his chest.

"He had a fractured rib and he struggled to breathe after the incident.

"There is still scarring to his back from the incident which took place two years ago."

Campbell Porter, defending Mat-Awotunde, told the sentencing that that there had been a previous incident where his client suffered a fractured skull.

Lara Thomson, defending Montassir, stated that her client regrets his actions.

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