A Perth teenager carried out an attack “because he wanted to feel like a big man about town,” a court was told.
Sheriff Mungo Bovey told Bobbi Lee Lawrence that “kicking somebody on the head is more or less an attempt to kill that person.”
The 16-year-old was left in no doubt he should get his act together as the sheriff warned him to spend “less time drinking and smoking dope” and more time considering the severity of his offence.
Lawrence, of Tulloch Hill in Perth, admitted assaulting a man at Moathill, Cupar, on August 25, repeatedly kicking him on the head and body to his injury.
Depute fiscal Tracy Plant gave Cupar Sheriff Court details of the attack.
“This happened at approximately 12.30am when witnesses were standing at the roadside chatting,” she said. “A number of males were walking down the road… and began to chat across the street to a group containing the accused.
“It appears there was some confrontation between the two groups and the accused attacked the complainer in the manner described.”
Police were summoned by an anonymous call.Bumps and lumpsThe victim was traced a short time later and was found to have sustained “a number of bumps and lumps” on his head, along with a swollen right eye.
Solicitor Alan Davie said Lawrence had moved to Perth following the offence as he was keen to start a new life “away from bad influences.”
“At the time of this incident Mr Lawrence had somewhat fallen in with the wrong crowd,” the defence agent said. “His choice of friends was not the best.
“There was a confrontation between the two groups and he wanted to retain his credibility among his friends.
“It certainly shows a degree of immaturity… but he has since been very sensible in moving away from the local area to Perth as he wants to make a fresh start.”
Mr Davie said Lawrence is now determined not to associate with any of his old friends. “He wants to make a clean break,” the solicitor added.
However, Sheriff Bovey was far from impressed by what he heard and after Lawrence was ordered to sit up straight in the dock he ordered the teenager be led away to custody for a few hours so he could “reconsider” his attitude to the crime.
“It seems like he felt it necessary to carry out this attack so he could feel like a big man about town,” the sheriff commented. “That is simply unacceptable.
“Kicking somebody on the head is more or less an attempt to kill that person.”
On his return from the cells, Lawrence narrowly avoided a period in detention and was instead placed on probation for one year.