Malicious gossip spread in the corridors of an Angus school ended in a double assault on the playing fields.
Witnesses described a sickening sound like “concrete hitting together” as Patrick Golabek butted two teenagers in the face in the playground.
Unusually, Golabek, 16, was slated to stand trial as an adult over the assaults to injury, on March 21 this year, before admitting to both charges at Forfar Sheriff Court on Monday.
Sheriff Gregor Murray heard how Golabek had been at the head of a group of 20 pupils as he marched over the fields towards his former friend, also 16, during a game of football.
The younger boy, a 14-year-old, was attacked as he stood between Golabek and his intended target, attempting to explain the rumour as false and defuse tensions.
Depute fiscal Hazel Anderson said: “The complainer in the first charge was known to Mr Golabek and is 14 years old, and the complainer in the second charge is 16, and considered himself to be a friend of his.
“There was a malicious rumour going around the school that the (older) complainer was going to hit Mr Golabek this was not true.
“Mr Golabek had heard about this and he had said to one of the witnesses he was going to attack him.
“Later on, the complainer and two friends were playing football on the playing fields and saw the accused approach with around 20 pupils in tow.”
The younger boy stood between Golabek and his intended target and tried to explain the rumour was untrue, and defuse tensions.
However, he was told he would be attacked if he did not get out of the way, and was then butted to the face, causing a nosebleed.
Moving on to the older boy, Golabek grabbed him by the jacket and pulled it over his head, causing him to stumble.
He then butted his face as he attempted to stand up.
Mrs Anderson added that there was “quite a degree of force” in the second attack.
“One witness described the sound as like two pieces of concrete hitting together,” she said.
The younger boy was left with general soreness around the nose and the older boy was taken to accident and emergency at Whitehills Hospital in Forfar.
He had bruising and abrasions to the nose and a sore neck but was fit to return to school after two days.
Golabek failed to attend his trial diet and was escorted by police from his home to make a personal appearance, but was allowed to stand in the dock at liberty.
Deferring sentence on Golabek to September 11 for the preparation of criminal justice social work reports, Sheriff Murray said: “I’ll talk to you sensibly with regards to your age and the fact you’ve no previous convictions.
“If you do things like this, if you don’t turn up to court, you may come through those doors in custody. You’re a lucky boy you’re not going to those cells today.”
Golabek admitted assaulting a 14-year-old at a school in Angus, butting him on the face to his injury.
He also admitted an amended charge of assaulting a 16-year-old, seizing him by the clothing and butting him on the face to his injury.