Sheriff’s worries at ‘no-go areas’ in town centre

Concerns raised as teenager is sentenced for ‘deplorable’ assault

A Dunfermline sheriff has slammed the fact that parts of Dunfermline are becoming “no-go areas”, while sentencing a pregnant teenager for her part in a mob attack on a vulnerable woman.

The teenager, who was in a gang of youngsters that took part in the sustained assault on the woman at Dunfermline bus station, has been ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.

Sentencing the 17-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, the sheriff made his remark about what is happening in parts the town centre.

There have been repeated complaints about gangs of youths hanging about, drinking and causing trouble in the bus station and Tesco car park.

The sickening attack on the woman, captured on CCTV, is only one of many incidents of youth disorder, including violence and drug dealing, which have come before the court recently.

Sheriff Charles MacNair said, “Unfortunately, the bus station and car park at Tesco are becoming no-go areas for the people of Dunfermline going about their lawful activity.”

The girl previously admitted that on September 9 last year, at the bus station, while acting with others, she 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 victim, who is in her forties and has learning difficulties, was repeatedly surrounded by a group of more than 20 teenage males and females.

Her ordeal – described by The Crown as “particularly nasty and distasteful” – went on for around 25 minutes, during which the woman also had her hair burned with a lighter.

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

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

Others passengers waiting looked on but nobody went to the woman’s assistance before the police eventually arrived.

Solicitor David Bell said his client had become “enraged” when a racist comment was made by the victim, only for the sheriff to interrupt him and point out there had been no suggestion of provocation when a guilty plea was submitted.

Sheriff MacNair told the girl: “This was a deplorable assault over a considerable period of time. This behaviour will not be tolerated.”

He imposed a community payback order with 12 months’ supervision and 300 hours of unpaid work. Two male youths were sentenced last week.

Dunfermline bus station is one of the places Sheriff Charles MacNair has raised concerns about.