A schoolboy who attacked a tourist in Highland Perthshire has been “ostracised” by his local community, his father has claimed.
Robert Torrance appeared at Perth Sheriff Court for sentencing on Thursday and, in an unusual move, Sheriff Robert McCreadie asked his father to sit with him as he set a punishment.
The sheriff ordered the 17-year-old to pay his victim, Michael Dickson, £350 as compensation for the injuries he caused when he punched him on the face.
However, he asked Mr Torrance to give assurances that his son was able to raise the funds himself, rather than relying on his parents.
Mr Torrance said, “It’s difficult for young people to get a job.
“As a result of this situation with him being in court and also appearing on the front page of the local paper, he has been ostracised by businesses.”
He added, “However, he has been told that if he sees through his final year of school, he may have the opportunity of a job at a warehouse up in Bruar.
“Hopefully that will come to pass and he will have money coming in.”Attended birthday partyMr Torrance said, “In the meantime, I have advised him to stick in at school and that way he will have better employment prospects.”
The attack took place on March 26 as Mr Dickson was on a stag party with friends in Pitlochry and the group were making their way along Atholl Road to their accommodation.
Torrance had been standing at a nearby bus stop and, when someone bumped into him causing him to knock his head, he blamed Mr Dickson and hit him, causing a cut to his nose that later required four stitches.
Defence agent David Holmes said that his client had earlier been at his own birthday party, which was strictly no alcohol.
However, he later met up with friends who gave him two bottles of beer, which the solicitor said would “certainly” have affected him.
Torrance, of Ferguson Avenue, Pitlochry, admitted that on March 26, he assaulted a man on Atholl Road by punching him on the face.
He was given one year to pay the compensation.