A young man and woman who assaulted two girls with learning disabilities and a carer who tried to stop them have been sentenced to detention.
Michael Etchells (20) and Kirstie Heeney (17) were sentenced at Dundee Sheriff Court on Monday after having admitted their parts in assaulting two girls and kicking carer Helen Couttie in Dudhope Park, Dundee, on May 31.
The victims came from Dudhope Villas, a centre for people with learning disabilities.
Sheriff Richard Davidson said Heeney had brought Etchells to the park after a ”falling out” with one of the two girls.
”You took him with you with the intention of sorting her out,” the sheriff said. ”You got her on the ground and Etchells kicked her twice in the head. Any kick to the head is potentially fatal.”
The sheriff said what happened was ”almost unique” in his long legal career.
”Seeing what was taking place on this day, Helen Couttie, the assistant manager, came out to try to intervene. She is a 48-year-old mature and intelligent woman, but you, Ms Heeney, told her: ‘You’re going to be next, you’re dead, I’m going to have you.’
”This shows a savage ignorance of proper behaviour and proper respect for a mature adult.”
Etchells had then climbed on to a wall where Ms Couttie was standing, before kicking her in the face, causing her to fall off and to the ground. She suffered cuts and damage to her nose and was forced to take 10 days off work, the sheriff said.
One of the girls attacked suffered a broken jaw and was said to be left in ”excruciating” pain, suffering headaches, flashbacks and post-traumatic stress.
The court was told Heeney had pulled her to the ground, then sat on top of her while Etchells stamped on her face.
The sheriff added: ”From what each of you have told social workers, assaulting young girls with learning disabilities is not a big deal, and apparently a frequent occurrence.
”You feel entitled to hit them if you feel like it.”
He sentenced Etchells, who has four previous convictions for assault and one for carrying an offensive weapon, to five years in detention with a three-year extended period of licence to follow.
He further received nine months in detention after he admitting fighting and breaching the peace, kicking a car and resisting arrest at Burnside Walk on May 12.
Heeney, of Strathmartine Avenue, was given a total of 13 months in detention for her part in the assaults.