Mob attacks vulnerable woman at bus station

DUNFERMLINE: Court told victim kicked, spat on and burned and no one helped her

A “baying” mob of more than 20 teenage thugs attacked a vulnerable woman at Dunfermline bus station, kicking her, burning her hair and spitting on her in an ordeal that lasted more than 25 minutes.

The victim, in her 40s, was repeatedly surrounded by a large gang of males and females at about 11pm. The bus station was still open, with buses coming and going, but nobody came to her aid until the police arrived.

The woman – who has learning difficulties and mental health issues – was knocked to the ground, kicked, repeatedly spat on and had her hair burned with a cigarette lighter.

The entire, sickening incident was captured on CCTV camera, and played in full to Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

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 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.

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