An “online spat” between Angus school pupils saw two brothers beaten up and a father searching for his son’s missing tooth.
Three teenagers appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and admitted assaulting a 16-year-old boy and his 13-year-old brother in Brechin last year.
The court heard the younger boy lost one of his teeth to repeated blows from two assailants, while a third repeatedly punched his brother.
Depute fiscal Bill Kermode said the 16-year-old trio, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had focused on the older brother on August 17 2016 until his sibling got involved.
“The complainers are brothers,” he said. “On July 1 they were entering a Farmfoods store during a school lunch and the older boy saw one of the accused walking past the shop several times and thought he was being followed.
“He messaged him on social media to ask why he was being followed.”
Mr Kermode said matters progressed on the second day of autumn term.
“On August 17 they were walking together and as they turned on to Latch Road they became aware of the three accused,” he said.
“Two of the accused challenged the older boy before one punched him, causing his brother to run up and push his assailant.”
Mr Kermode said both boys were repeatedly punched in the street.
“The younger boy became aware of one of his teeth falling out, but he was unsure who had punched it out,” he added.
“Witnesses approached the locus to assist with the fight ceasing and the accused walked away.
“Witnesses had a look for the front tooth but couldn’t find it and then walked to school.”
The court heard the boys’ father searched for the tooth the next day, in the hope it could be put back.
Defending the sole accused who attacked the older boy, Michael Boyd said: “There seems to have been an online spat involving the co-accused.”
Solicitor Billy Rennie said there had been a “history of ill feeling” between his co-accused and the older complainer, and his client “didn’t realise” the younger brother was 13.
Defence agent Craig Scott said the third accused also “had no idea” of the boy’s age before he was charged with the assault.
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown said she believed the incident was a “one-off” and deferred sentence for six months for the teenagers to be of good behaviour.
