Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Teen smashed boy with rock
COURT REPORTER
A violent teenager who smashed a boy’s head with a rock has avoided a jail sentence.
The 17-year-old thug, who cannot be named for legal reasons, beat up a fourthyear student because he was “talking behind his back”, leaving him permanently scarred and with a broken eye socket.
The yob attacked his 15- year- old victim in the canteen of a secondary school on February 26 last year.
Airdrie Sheriff Court heard last week how the violent teen hit the younger boy over the head with a rock, grabbed him and caused him to fall and hit his head on a table.
As a result of the attack, the victim suffered severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
Prosecutor Jennifer McLaren told the court: “It happened at 8.50am in the school canteen just before the school bell went.
“They had been sitting with friends when the young boy turned round and felt a blow to the back of his head.
“He then suffered punches and was put in a headlock. He was repeatedly struck on the head and body with a rock.
“The boy grabbed his attacker’s legs, causing them to fall to the ground. He continued to hit the boy with the rock.
“There was blood on the floor and the fight was eventually broken up.
“The accused stood up and went straight to class. The boy went to reception to get first aid.
“The head teacher was informed and the boy’s grandfather took him to Glasgow Royal Infirmary for medical attention.”
The victim needed seven stitches and suffered a compound fracture to his eye socket, and was left with a swollen left eye.
The fiscal depute added: “There were two obvious scars on his face near his eye and eyebrow and scars on the back of his head, although covered by his hair.”
The thug was taken to Coatbridge police office and when cautioned and charged, said of his victim: “He was getting battered. He was talking behind my back.”
The rock was produced in court and shown to Sheriff Morag Shankland.
Defence lawyer Martin Hughes said: “He acted entirely inappropriately. He appears as a first offender.
“There is plenty of scope for a community- based disposal.”
Sheriff Shankland told the young thug, who stood motionless in the dock: “This is a very serious matter and I would be entitled to send you to prison. But I will give you the chance of the alternative.”
He was put on a community payback order which included a restriction of liberty order for six months, banning him from leaving home each day from 7pm until 7am.
He was also ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work within nine months and put on social work supervision for 18 months.