Teenage gang thug dodges jail over stab horror

A council apprentice has been spared jail over a street stabbing that left his teenage victim’s insides showing.

The 17- year- old, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was just 15 when he stabbed Stephan Downey, 18, outside a post office, while part of a gang terrorising his local neighbourhood.

The youngster, who works for East Renfrewshire Council, plunged a knife into Mr Downey’s stomach in October 2017 – leaving him with a damaged bowel and his internal organs exposed.

The attack took place around 7.20pm as Mr Downey and a friend passed the youngster and a crowd of other youths outside the post office in Cross Arthurlie Street, Barrhead.

Procurator Fiscal Depute Keri Marshall told Paisley Sheriff Court: “Mr Downey then became involved in a heated argument with the accused and, during the heated argument, the accused stepped forwards towards the witness Downey, pulled his right hand from his jacket pocket and struck the witness to the stomach area.

“The witness Downey initially stepped back from the accused and believed he had been punched in the stomach.

“He turned and walked away.” His attacker went back and stood with his friends before running in the opposite direction from Mr Downey, who began to feel pain in his stomach and noticed his attacker was armed with a knife.

Miss Marshall added: “On closer inspection Mr Downey realised he had been stabbed in the lower stomach.

“There was very little blood but it appeared some of his internal organs were protruding from the wound.”

He went to hospital were medics treated his wounds, which included two puncture wounds and a cut on his small bowel.

Surgery was carried out and he was taken to the high dependency unit.

Sentence was deferred for background reports to be prepared and the youngster returned to the dock to learn his fate.

Defence solicitor Melissa Rutherford said: “He has made a number of changes since.

“He is now a 17-year-old man but committed this offence as a 15-yearold, stupid, boy.”

After hearing that the youngster had secured his own apprenticeship, that he was due to complete in July where he hoped to be kept on in full time, Sheriff Tom McCartney opted to leave him as a free man.

As he placed him on a Community Payback Order and Restriction of Liberty Order, he said: “This is a very serious offence.

“An assault with a knife is one where a sentence of detention has to be expected.

“I have thought very carefully about this.

“Exceptionally, I have decided an alternative to that is appropriate in this case.”

His punishment will see him supervised for three years by social workers, completing 240 hours unpaid work in the next 12 months and remaining within his home between 7pm and 7am every day for the next eight months.