Teenager is made to pay for bottle attack on volleyball player

COURT: Stranger was left covered in blood and glass after unprovoked assault on Perth street

A teenager has been ordered to pay compensation to a volleyball player after smashing a bottle over his head because he came from Edinburgh.

Declan Foley attacked the stranger after discovering where he and his team-mates had come from to attend a volleyball tournament in Perth.

The 18-year-old left Adam Gough covered in blood and glass and he had to be taken to hospital to have a series of wounds treated.

Perth Sheriff Court was told Foley had been released on bail just a month before carrying out the unprovoked attack on Mr Gough.

Yesterday Foley was ordered to pay £400 compensation to his victim and told to complete 180 hours unpaid work in the community.

Foley, Smillie Place, Bridge of Earn, admitted assaulting Mr Gough in Charlotte Place, Perth, on June 4 by striking him on the head with a bottle.

Depute fiscal Bill Kermode told Perth Sheriff Court: “Mr Gough and his friends had arrived in Perth to take part in a volleyball event. On the same evening the accused had been at a house party with friends.

“The players were crossing the road when they noticed a group of six males, aged from about 13 to 18. One of the six asked where they were from and they replied Edinburgh.”

The visitors walked on but they were followed by the youngsters and Foley disappeared off in a car before returning and running towards the rival group.

“Mr Gough was struck on the right side of the head with a bottle by the accused. The bottle smashed and he could feel it bleeding. He was covered in glass,” Mr Kermode said.

Foley claimed he had been told by others that they had had an earlier run in with a group from Edinburgh but it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.

Solicitor John McLaughlin, defending, said Foley had taken up boxing training and was now working in a job where he had regular checks for drugs and alcohol in his system.

He said Foley had previously been diagnosed with a number of issues including “rigid thinking” which made him “headstrong, opinionated and reckless”.

Foley was also placed under social work supervision for 12 months.

The bottle smashed and he could feel it bleeding. He was covered in glass

Bridge of Earn teenager Declan Foley has been placed under social work supervision for 12 months.