A woman with learning difficulties was viciously targeted by a “baying” mob of young thugs at Dunfermline bus station.
The victim, in her forties, was repeatedly surrounded by a group of over 20 teenage males and females.
Her ordeal went on for around 25 minutes during which time the woman was kicked, knocked to the ground, repeatedly spat on and had her hair burned with a lighter.
The sickening incident was captured throughout on CCTV and has been shown in full at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
The bus station was still open at the time, around 11pm, with buses arriving and leaving. Others passengers waiting for their buses looked on but nobody went to the woman’s assistance before the police eventually arrived.
After watching the disturbing scenes, a sheriff said it was “remarkable” the police did not arrive earlier, with the incident being followed throughout by CCTV operators.
In the dock were a 17-year-old female from Rosyth, a 17-year-old male from Dunfermline and a 16-year-old male from Rosyth. None of the thugs can be named for legal reasons.
All three admitted that on September 9 last year at Dunfermline bus station, whilst acting with others, they assaulted the woman by repeatedly spitting on her head and body, repeatedly kicking her on the body, causing her to fall to the ground.
The 16-year-old admitted a second charge of repeatedly putting a lighter at the woman’s head and on one occasion putting a flame at her head.
Before showing the video, depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said, “It’s a particularly nasty and distasteful offence on a woman in her 40s and who has learning difficulties.
“She was extremely upset when police arrived. The woman is vulnerable and has mental health issues. When police arrived her hair was covered by spit.
“The three accused were part of a larger group. They were baying around her and seemed to be focussing their actions on the woman because of her vulnerability.
“The locus is a trouble hot-spot and police were having to attend there regularly.”
Sheriff Charles MacNair said, “What is remarkable is that no-one intervened earlier.”
He added, “We were watching that for a significant length of time before the police arrived. It’s not far from them.”
Sheriff MacNair called for reports and sentencing will take place on June 28.
