A Fife teenager who stabbed a Hogmanay reveller with a Buckfast bottle has been locked up.
Kerian Hudghton attacked his victim in Kirkcaldy’s Alford Avenue in the early hours of New Year Day.
The 18-year-old was detained when he appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court for sentencing on Tuesday, having previously admitted the assault.
A warrant was issued for co-accused Dayle McLaren, 21, after he failed to turn up for the hearing.
Attacked after Buckfast mix-up
The court heard that Hudghton’s victim drank a bottle of Buckfast to bring in the New Year, but realised afterwards it belonged to someone else.
He offered to make amends and withdraw £10 from a cashpoint.
The man was followed outside by Hudghton and McLaren.
They repeatedly punched and kicked him on the head and body, the court heard.
The pair returned inside and when the complainer attempted to re-enter, Hudghton swung a Buckfast bottle at his head and used the glass bottle to stab him in the back.
The man was taken to hospital by ambulance with lacerations on his back, scalp, finger, chin, wrist and thumb.
Hudghton pleaded guilty to assaulting the man with the glass bottle to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life.
His solicitor Eilidh Grant said the violence had been sparked by her client’s victim making a homophobic remark. She said he had drank a 70cl bottle of vodka that night.
Crime spree
The teenager was also sentenced for a string of violent and disorderly offences in 2021.
He admitted that in May, he shouted, swore and threw a sign through the window of Barclay’s Newsagent in Woodside Way, Glenrothes. He had claimed earlier he had been assaulted.
Hudghton also admitted being abusive towards staff at Link Living in Kirkcaldy in August. He shouted, swore, acted aggressively and made threats and abusive comments to police who arrested him.
In October, he admitted stealing £45.74 worth of alcohol at Greens shop on Balbirnie Street, Markinch.
Staff has their attention drawn to him when he dropped a bottle of wine and he became aggressive, shouting and swearing and threatening them.
Police were called and found him to be in possession of a Philips screwdriver.
Ms Grant told the court that part-time roofer Hudghton was a painting and decorating student at Fife College before being remanded in January. He landed a job as a barber in HMP YOI Polmont.
She said the teenager had been in care since he was 14 and the time spent behind bars was the longest he had gone abstaining from alcohol or substances in years, adding he had been at risk of a life-threatening overdose before his arrest.
Sheriff James Williamson detained Hudghton for two and a half years. The teenager will be supervised for a year after he is released.
