Teen spared jail for brutal Boxing Day assault

A Coatbridge teenager escaped a jail sentence after a vicious festive season attack left a man unconscious in the town centre.

Declan Mills, 19, of Woodside Street, assaulted a man on the town’s Main Street on Boxing Day last year.

The fiscal depute told Airdrie Sheriff Court last week how Mills punched the man on the head, booted him on the leg and body and knocked him to the ground, rendering him unconscious to his severe injury.

Defence lawyer Tony Linden told how Mills pled guilty at the earliest possible opportunity, on October 29, when sentence was deferred on him for the preparation of background reports.

Mr Linden added: “He has a good employment record

“He has just passed his driving test and has a positive lifestyle.

“He has asked me to ask the court not to consider imposing a restriction of liberty order.

“He works different hours and enjoys football. In recent times his work has taken him to Dunoon.”

The court then heard that Mills had been assessed by social workers as being a “low risk” of re-offending and had no other cases outstanding.

Mr Linden went on: “This offence happened almost a year ago.

“It was a complete and utter aberration on the part of this young man.”

Sheriff Frank Pieri, sentencing, told Mills he was “just matter, and would be much more serious had it not been for the fact I am dealing with a first offender.

“You pled guilty to a very serious charge and an assault in which your victim suffered a serious injury.

“Make no mistake about it, had you not pleaded guilty when you did I would have had no hesitation but to impose a period in custody.

“I am just persuaded that I can deal with this with a direct alternative to a custodial sentence.”

Mills was ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work within one year; it was reduced from the maximum of 300 hours because of his early plea.

The sheriff added: “If you are in breach of the order you know what to expect as this is a direct alternative