Violent youth punched victim as she lay on pavement

A teenage terror launched a sickening attack on a woman in Paisley town centre.

The 17-year-old thug — who cannot be named for legal reasons — pounced on 29-year-old Christine Lang in St Mirren Street, while acting with a pal.

The accused, who is staying at a care unit in the town, appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court this week, where she admitted her shocking crime, which took place on August 1.

Ms Lang was dragged to the ground and battered while she lay on the pavement, after a group of three teenagers got into an argument with her in the High Street.

However, the accused and her pal followed her in the direction of St Mirren Street and caught up with her near the Cenotaph.

Ms Lang was then punched and kicked and dragged onto the pavement.

The incident had been captured on CCTV, and thankfully, the victim escaped serious injury, but sustained cuts and bruises, and was left badly shaken by the attack.

The teen pled guilty to seizing her victim by the body, pulling her to the ground, and repeatedly punching her on the head and kicking her on the body, while acting with another juvenile girl.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard the accused, who already has a conviction from the high court for assault, had been placed on a court order requiring her supervision by the social work department at the time of the town centre incident.

Defence agent for the teenager Michael McKeown confirmed his client was pleading guilty to the assault and added she had been given a “warning” about staying out of trouble.

He said: “She was handed a community payback order in relation to a previous matter which called at the high court.

“The court is aware this matter was outstanding and, hopefully, would give her warning about not coming to the attention of police.”

Her co-accused, also a 17-year-old girl who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to breaching terms of her curfew by being in Paisley town centre and not at her bail address during the attack.

However, the youngster had her guilty plea accepted by prosecutors when she appeared in the dock beside the accused.

Her defence agent James Arrol said his client had been on a curfew for almost four months, and had remained out of trouble since the date of the incident. He added is she due to appear at court in March 2018, for another matter.

Sheriff Linda Smith deferred sentence on the first accused and ordered her back into court on November 28, when she will learn of her fate.