Teenagers target woman with learning difficulties

Three teenagers admit assaulting woman as people looked on

A woman with learning difficulties was targeted by a “braying” mob of youngsters at Dunfermline bus station.

The victim, in her forties, was repeatedly surrounded by a group of more than 20 teenagers.

Her ordeal went on for around 25 minutes during which time she was kicked, knocked to the ground, repeatedly spat on and had her hair burned with a lighter.

The entire incident was captured on CCTV and was shown in full at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

The bus station was still open at the time, around 11pm, with buses arriving and leaving.

Other passengers waiting for their buses looked on but nobody went to the woman’s assistance before the police eventually arrived.

After watching the disturbing scenes, a sheriff said it was “remarkable” the police did not arrive earlier, with the incident being followed throughout by CCTV operators.

In the dock was a 17-year-old female from Rosyth, a 17-year-old male from Dunfermline and a 16-year-old male from Rosyth.

None of the accused can be named for legal reasons.

All three admitted that on September 9 2016 at Dunfermline bus station, while acting with others, they assaulted the woman by repeatedly spitting on her head and body, repeatedly kicking her on the body, causing her to fall to the ground.

The 16-year-old admitted a second charge of repeatedly putting a lighter at the woman’s head and on one occasion putting a flame at her head.

Before showing the video, depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said: “It’s a particularly nasty and distasteful offence

“It’s a particularly nasty and distasteful offence on a woman in her forties and who has learning difficulties

on a woman in her forties and who has learning difficulties.

“She was extremely upset when police arrived.

“The woman is vulnerable and has mental health issues.

“When police arrived her hair was covered by spit.

“The three accused were part of a larger group.

“They were braying around her and seemed to be focusing their actions on the woman because of her vulnerability.

“The locus is a trouble hotspot and police were having to attend there regularly.”

Sheriff Charles MacNair said: “What is remarkable is that no one intervened earlier.”

He added: “We were watching that for a significant length of time before the police arrived. It’s not far from them.”

Sheriff MacNair called for reports and sentencing will take place on June 28.