Thief targeted kids to fund legal highs

But new laws protect the thug

A drug- crazed teen preyed on young victims – one of whom was just 11- years- old – in a bid to feed his chronic addiction to legal highs.

But due to a change in the law, we cannot name the teenage drug seeker, who was on bail while he carried out one of the robberies.

The new legislation brought in by the Scottish Government will cloak the identity of the 17- year- old – who lives in Ayr – until he turns 18 in six months time.

He appeared from custody at Ayr Sheriff Court facing a host of charges, including multiple robberies to fund his chemical cravings.

He pounced on three boys in Leslie Crescent, in Ayr’s Forehill, last September, asking them for tobacco or drugs.

Then he demanded they hand over money – or one of them would be “smashed.”

And after a terrified 15- year- old victim parted with £ 5, the robber left a twisted calling- card by telling the stunned group his name.

Just two weeks later he spotted some of the same crowd in the car park outside Morrison’s supermarket in Castlehill Road at 8.30pm.

He cycled in front of them, stopped his bike and threatened: “If one of yous don’t give me money you’re getting smashed.”

This time his victim, aged just 13, handed over £ 15.

And in May, two children were walking on Whitletts Road, when they felt the unidentified teenager was stalking them.

The boys bolted into Walker Road where one lad hid under a parker car, and the other hid behind a hedge.

But the thug found the boy – aged just 11 – who was cowering under the motor and again threatened violence.

He then searched the victim and robbed him of £ 20 that was stashed in his sock for safe keeping.

At court, fiscal depute Lindzay Bayne said a previous incident led to a boy being attacked in Cunningham Crescent, Ayr, in June last year.

The unidentified teen leapt into a garden and grabbed a wooden pole which he used to batter his victim repeatedly on the head and body.

And the beating only came to a halt when the other boy’s mum intervened.

But the same teenager faced yet another worrying charge - this time threatening his own family.

In April he screamed at a relative, calling her a junkie and a whore, before grabbing a baseball bat and going on the rampage.

Three children were present as he smashed up a tv, a window and garden sheds at the house where he stayed.

Defence agent John Gallgher said his client had become addicted to so- called legal highs – which can be purchased in Ayr town centre and throughout the county.

Mr Gallagher said the drugs had: “A marked impact on his behaviour when he was under the influence and when he was craving these substances.”

For the robbery on the 11- year- old, committed while on bail, the youth was sent to a young offender’s institution for nine months.

The term was backdated to May 25, due to time already spent in custody.

Sentencing for the robberies in Walker Road and Morrison’s car park, and for damaging property at his home address, will be carried out at a hearing next month.