A tearaway teen has been warned by a sheriff he is “talking his way to jail” after telling social workers he will not do community work or wear an electronic tag.
The Angus 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was slated for his unhelpful attitude towards criminal justice staff attempting to help him away from a crime spree which included an attack on his 16-year-old girlfriend and breaking a bail curfew.
In the September 5 assault, the youth spat on the girl, grabbed her by the neck and slapped her.
Defence solicitor Nick Markowski told Forfar Sheriff Court the teenager had been placed on the bail curfew in April when he appeared from custody in relation to a charge of theft.
He had breached curfew by returning 40 minutes late from a visit to his gran’s, the court heard, an offence borne out of immaturity, added his lawyer.
“He’s now going to college and has a new group of friends who aren’t involved in trouble,” said Mr Markowski.
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown told the teenager: “The (social work) report was pretty poor and there was a recommendation that you should smarten up your attitude.
“These are offences for which a community-based disposal would normally be appropriate.
“You won’t do unpaid work, you don’t have money to pay a financial penalty and you don’t want to have a restriction of liberty order.
“You can’t choose not to be sentenced or punished in any way and that leaves jail as the only option.”
She deferred sentence for four weeks, adding: “It is imperative you have a more mature attitude with the social work department for when you come back to court.”
