Bus attack victim was branded a ‘ beast’

A man travelling on a bus was labelled a “beast” before he was set upon and repeatedly punched and kicked.

William McLean, 18, of Ardlaw Street, Glasgow, appeared from custody at Ayr Sheriff Court last week.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting a man during a bus journey from Kilmarnock to Mauchline on February 22 by repeatedly punching him on the head and kicking him on the body.

Fiscal depute Scott Toal said: “The complainer was a 31- year- old man and in the company of another.

“They were travelling on a bus from Kilmarnock and going to Cumnock.

“During the journey males and females began to argue with the complainer, calling him a beast.

“This led to the accused, one female and another male assaulting the complainer by punching him on the head and kicking him on the body.

“The assault was prolonged.”

The court was told the complainer and his friend got off the bus and contacted police.

Mr Toal said: “The complainer contacted police and arranged to meet them at Cumnock Bus Station and a bus arrived with the accused still on it.

“The victim sustained injuries to his face but he did not want hospital treatment so the extent of the injuries were unknown.”

McLean’s solicitor said: “He is due to be released from his current sentence imposed at Glasgow Sheriff Court and this is the only matter outstanding.

“He was made subject of a community payback order from February.

“He’s a young man who has not had his problems to seek and he’s spiralled out of control.

“He was put in a secure unit at his own request.

“He has a bad tendency to meet up with a negative peer group and accepts he acted in the matter libelled.”

Sheriff John Montgomery deferred sentence on McLean until November 7 for him to stay out of trouble and to review his current community payback order.