Teen cracked boy’ s skull with golf club

Aschoolboy suffered life-threatening injuries and was left “unable to speak” after a golf club attack in Perth.

The 15-year-old’s skull was cracked in the assault in broad daylight on Dunkeld Road in 2021.

He now has severe speech problems and may never fully recover.

Dean Williamson, 18, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted assaulting the youngster to his severe injury, permanent impairment and disfigurement and to the danger of his life.

Willamson, then aged 16, brought the golf club down on his victim’s head so hard it snapped in two, the court heard.

Fiscal depute Gavin Letford said the assault on June 23 was captured on CCTV.

“The accused and the complainer are known to each other,” he told the court.

“At around 3pm, a group of teenagers, including the complainer, attended at a playpark in Tulloch Road.

“Once the group had all gathered, they went to hang out in North Muirton playpark, before deciding to go to one of the group’s home addresses.”

Mr Letford said the teenagers walked down Dunkeld Road at around 7.15pm. “As they walked across the street, they observed the accused and another male.

“A witness described the complainer, who was in possession of an empty Buckfast bottle, approaching the accused and saying something. She couldn’t make out what was said.

“The witness then saw the accused raise a golf club, which he held in both hands, and strike it across the complainer’s head.

“This caused the club to snap in two.”

The prosecutor said the boy then threw the bottle at

Williamson. The assault was also witnessed by two passing police officers.

When they activated their lights and sirens, Williamson took off on foot.

“Officers observed the complainer had suffered a head wound,” said Mr Letford.

“He was bleeding heavily and unable to speak.

“An ambulance was contacted but, due to the number of calls experienced by the Scottish Ambulance Service at the time, they were unable to attend.”

The boy was taken to Perth Infirmary by police.

“He was then transferred by ambulance to Ninewells as his injuries were deemed life threatening,” the fiscal depute said.

A CT scan revealed the teenager had suffered a fractured skull.

He spent five days in the hospital’s paediatric high dependency unit.

Mr Letford said doctors were unable to say whether he would make a full recovery. A clinical psychologist also noted that the assault had left him with “severe disruption to verbal and speech skills” which were “considerably below age expectations”.

His long-term memory could also be affected.

Williamson, of Catmoor Avenue, Scone, made no comment as he was arrested.

Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, said his client was just 16 at the time.

He added the victim said in his police statement he hit Williamson with the bottle.

Sheriff David Hall deferred sentence for background reports.

“You have just turned 18 and have no previous convictions so I will require to obtain reports.

“If these reports are not ready when you return to court, and if that is in any way your fault, you could be remanded in custody,” he told Williamson.

STREET ASSAULT: Dean Williamson used a golf club to attack a 15-year-old boy, leaving him with life-changing injuries.