Workers sentenced for bullying teen trainee

Garage apprentice had paint sprayed in his face and was caged in a metal container

Workplace bullies who tormented a teenage apprentice at a Kirkcaldy garage have been ordered to pay their victim compensation.

Ryan Donnelly, 32, and Alexander Watson, 44, were also sentenced to unpaid work in the community for subjecting the 18-year-old trainee to a humiliating catalogue of assaults, including caging him in a metal container.

The incidents happened at Craignairn Cars service workshop, in Forth Avenue.

Both were sacked for gross misconduct around three weeks ago after being convicted at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.

A source revealed the apprentice was reduced to tears when he finally reported what had been happening.

“He was told by Watson that if he said anything he’d get into more trouble.”

Watson had worked with the company for more than 14 years and had been promoted to manager.

“He thought that it was a big laugh,” continued the source.

“He thought it was just workplace banter, but that doesn’t go on anymore.”

Donnelly and Watson previously pleaded guilty to seizing their victim, placing him in a metal container and preventing him from escaping from it, in March this year.

Donnelly, of Letham Gait in Dalgety Bay, admitted a further charge of assaulting the man on various dates between September 1 of last year and May 19, both dates inclusive.

He punched him on the body, sprayed brake cleaner on him, threw an airbag at him and sprayed paint in his face.

Donnelly also restrained the man and shaved off his eyebrows on March 21.

Watson, of Christie Place in Kirkcaldy, pled guilty to a charge of culpably and recklessly striking the man to the body with a screwdriver, or similar implement, to his injury during March.

Appearing for Donnelly, solicitor Calum Cox said: “At the time he didn’t see what he was doing as criminal behaviour. It started off as workplace banter, but he fully accepts now that looking back, that banter crossed the line significantly.”

Donnelly is currently self-employed and Watson has found another job as a mechanic in Dundee.

Sheriff Alastair Thornton sentenced Donnelly to 270 hours of unpaid work in the community and ordered him to pay his victim £300 in compensation.

Watson was given 245 hours of unpaid work and a compensation order of £250.

The sheriff said: “People in an apprenticeship situation must not have to face such behaviour as you meted out to this individual.”

A spokesman for Craignairn Cars said: “The people involved with this are not employed with us any more.

“We do not tolerate that kind of behaviour in the workplace.”

It started offas workplace banter, but he fully accepts now that looking back, that banter crossed the line significantly. SOLICITOR CALUM COX