Broke youth’s leg with bat

A boozed-up Coatbridge yob who smashed a baseball bat across a youth’s leg, breaking his leg and causing it to be held together with metal pins, will be sentenced next month.

Brendon Kennedy, 18, of Dudley Drive in Townhead, carried out the vicious attack on April 22 last year at a field near Dochart Drive in his home town.

Airdrie Sheriff Court heard how thug Kennedy, who pleaded guilty to the offence, brutally beat up another 18-year-old man.

He admitted chasing him and attempting to strike him on the head with a baseball bat and then repeatedly thumped him on the body and legs with the weapon, knocking him to the ground.

Kennedy then seized the teenager by the neck, compressed it and restricted his breathing, all to his severe injury and danger to his life.

Prosecutor Annette Ward, who moved for sentencing and put a series of previous convictions for Kennedy before the court, said: “The victim was in Coatbridge with friends and they made their way to Dochart Drive and were joined by others, including Kennedy. All parties had been consuming alcohol.

“Kennedy became more drunk and abusive and moved towards his victim, insinuating that he was in possession of a knife.

“He ran after him and challenged him to remove clothing to show he had no weapons.

“Kennedy then produced a baseball bat which he had been concealing and began striking the youth with it on the head, ribs and about his body.

“He then struck him on his right leg, causing him to fall to the ground. He then jumped on his head, grabbed his throat and tried to strangle him.

“Others shouted for him to stop or he could kill him. Kennedy said, ‘good’.

“He was dragged off him, but was unable to walk and was taken to Monklands Hospital, where he was assessed and found to have a fracture to his right tibia.

“He had to have emergency surgery and pins inserted in his leg.

“One of my colleagues has since spoken to the youth who said the incident has affected his confidence and has caused him mental health issues.”

Kennedy pleaded not guilty to carrying a baseball bat in public and to assaulting another 18- year- old teenager by pushing him on the body and repeatedly striking him on the head and body with the weapon.

The offences were alleged to have taken place on the same day in the field near to Dochart Drive. The Crown accepted the not guilty pleas.

Sheriff Fergus Thomson deferred sentence on the teenage brute until April 8, calling for a restriction of liberty order assessment.