Teen given chance after Fife shooting

BB GUN: Matthew Lindsay involved in shopping centre fracas

A Glenrothes teenager involved in a shooting at a Fife shopping centre has been sentenced.

Matthew Lindsay appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court yesterday after admitting his involvement in the BB gun incident on June 16 2017.

The 19-year-old, who acted alongside a friend who cannot be named for legal reasons, was involved in a verbal altercation with a male inside the Kingdom Shopping Centre. The duo were spotted on CCTV, with one of them pointing a gun at the victim before firing pellets which missed.

Lindsay, who was just 17, was arrested two days later and pled guilty to acting in a threatening or abusive manner at a previous hearing.

The carpet fitter also admitted possessing an air weapon without having a licence.

Lindsay, of St Rule Road, narrowly avoided being detained for his “childish” behaviour and was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Police Scotland yesterday welcomed the conviction and slammed the “reckless act”.

A teenager has been sentenced for shooting at a man with a BB gun in a Fife shopping centre.

Matthew Lindsay appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court yesterday after admitting his role in the terrifying ordeal on June 16 2017.

The court was told how Matthew and a friend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were spotted in the Kingdom Shopping Centre by a CCTV operator at around 5pm.

He saw the two youths involved in a verbal altercation with the victim before pointing an object in his direction and firing pellets at him.

The man was uninjured and Lindsay was traced by officers two days later.

Lindsay, 19, previously admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner alongside his friend by brandishing an airgun or similar and discharging it towards the victim.

He also admitted shouting, swearing and uttering offensive remarks, as well as being in possession of an air weapon without a licence.

Defence solicitor Alan Davie said his “childish” client was involved in the shooting but it was the other youth who pointed the gun and pulled the trigger.

He added: “The friend had possession of the BB gun and showed it to Mr Lindsay during the course of the day. He has then joined in using the item, which they did not hold a licence for.

“The complainer wasn’t struck by the pellets, which may have some bearing on the sentencing of the offence.

“His behaviour was childish but he does recognise how potentially frightening that may have been.

“In terms of licensing, that’s not something that had ever crossed his mind or that he was aware of.”

Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist replied: “He was aware of the fact that you’re not supposed to use an air weapon to threaten people in shopping centres. He is somebody who has three previous cases for assaults and two other matters. He’s not exactly innocent.”

He added: “I think the appropriate way to deal with this case is to impose unpaid work.”

Lindsay was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work within four months.

Detective constable Stephen Mackenzie, of Glenrothes CID, said: “We note the sentencing of Matthew Lindsay and want to reassure our communities that we treat all crimes where a firearm is used, even imitation or air weapons, with the utmost seriousness.

“This was an extremely reckless act, which thankfully did not result in any injury to the public, but understandably caused fear and alarm.”

Matthew Lindsay’s defence solicitor described his client as childish but said he recognised how potentially frightening his behaviour had been.