Brutal robber jailed

A teenage yob from Airdrie who brutally beat up and stole from two younger boys has been jailed.

Christopher Soden, 18, of Gartlea Road, carried out the vicious attack on the boys, one of whom was 15, last October on a lane between Lady Ann Crescent and Carlisle Road.

Airdrie Sheriff Court heard that Soden assaulted the 15-year-old by punching him on the head, knocking him to the ground and repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body before robbing him of his jacket and a set of keys.

He then attacked another youngster in a similar way, punching him on the head, knocking him to the ground and repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body, and also robbing him of his jacket and mobile phone.

Defence lawyer Eddie Kelly told the court: “He has been remanded since November 3 for reports.

“It was quite clear from an early stage that he wanted to resolve this matter.

“He realised he hadn’t cooperated with reports called for, didn’t turn up for court and was subsequently remanded.

“The time he has had in custody has given him the chance to soberly reflect on all that has happened.”

Sheriff Morag Galbraith told Soden: “The difficulty is you didn’t turn up for court. Your behaviour was unacceptable.”

The sheriff backdated the 17-month sentence to November 3, when he was first remanded in custody.