The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Three teens avoid time in detention over fighting
Court: Trio carried out attacks in brawl which involved stun gun
Three north-east teenagers have narrowly avoided detention after carrying out brutal attacks during a staged fight involving a stun gun.
Scott Gilmartin, 19, Tyler Morrison 19, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons went along with friends to a prearranged fight at Clerkhill Primary School on August 27 last year.
They were not the instigators but soon got involved, with Aberdeen Sheriff Court hearing the 17-year-old had brought a stun gun with him.
After others at the scene began fighting they clashed with Irvine Grant and another man who cannot be named for legal reasons.
The 17-year-old is said to have discharged the stun gun against Mr Grant before the three of them repeatedly punched him on his head and body.
The three teenagers were traced by police shortly after, with the 17-year-old found to be in possession of the stun gun.
Officers subsequently discovered the three accused were members of a Whatsapp group and, through messages, had laughed about taking part in the assaults.
The three of them confessed to their part in the incident at an earlier date and returned to the sheriff court yesterday.
Representing Gilmartin, of Richmondhill Road in Peterhead, defence agent Iain Hingston said his client was “contrite” and had admitted his part in one assault from the time he was interviewed.
And for the 17-year-old, defence lawyer Jennifer Pritchard said her client did not buy the stun gun online but was given it and was unaware that possessing it was illegal.
Representing Morrison, of George Garden Avenue in Peterhead, Sheena Mair said her client had got himself on to an engineering apprenticeship which he would lose if sent to detention.
She asked for a community sentence, saying: “That will allow him to have a future.”
Sheriff Summers ordered Gilmartin to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, placed him under supervision for a year and made him subject to a restriction of liberty order for three months.
He placed the 17-yearold under supervision for two years, ordered him to carry out 225 hours of unpaid work and imposed a five-month restriction of liberty order.
And finally he placed Morrison under supervision for a year, ordered him to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and placed him under a restriction of liberty for four months.
He warned them detention would be imposed if they breached any aspect of his orders, saying: “Do not test me on this. You have no wriggle room and you have no rope.”
“Do not test me on this. You havenowriggle room and you have no rope”