A Rutherglen teenager who was viciously assaulted in the street admitted he was surprised at the sentence handed down to one of his attackers last week.
The 18-year-old was savagely beaten up by a pair of teenage thugs while out late at night with his girlfriend.
The victim, who does not want to be named, was punched, kicked and stamped upon repeatedly by Paul Quinn and Ben Bryden in March.
The attack left him covered in bruises and cuts, and the young man was even left with a footprint on his face.
Appearing at Hamilton Sheriff Court last week, Quinn was sentenced to 18 months in jail, while Bryden will be dealt with later when more background reports are available.
The Rutherglen victim told the Reformer: “That sentencing sounds like a hefty amount.
“Personally I wouldn’t wish for someone to go to jail, but it was out of my hands by the time it got to court.
“It will be hard for him in jail, but if this is what the procurator fiscal and courts think is necessary then I can’t argue with it.”
The young victim insisted that he suffered no lasting damage, physically or mentally.
He said: “I’m okay now, but I’m just a bit more wary these days when I’m out and about.
“I’m not much of a fighter and I definitely don’t look for trouble.
“What happened that night is all a big blur now. All I really remember is guys running towards me, being attacked, and then curling up into a ball.”
Eighteen-year-old Quinn and Bryden had both previously admitted the assault, which took place in East Kilbride in an earlier court appearance.
The court heard how the victim and his girlfriend had been in the car park at the Olympia shopping centre at around 11.30pm on March 8.
The two accused ran towards them, attacked the teen and continued kicking and punching him when he was curled up on the ground trying to defend himself.
Fiscal depute Liza Lann told the court: “The victim’s girlfriend was screaming and this attracted the attention of other people who came to assist.
“Quinn appeared to walk away, but was seen to turn back, stamp on the victim’s face then try to stamp on him again.
“He approached witnesses and pulled out a knife with a blade of five to six inches.
“Brandishing this, he said ‘I’ll take on every single one of you. Do want a fight?’ Quinn was jabbing the knife in a stabbing motion before walking off.”
Quinn also admitted brandishing the knife and threatening witnesses who went to help.
Sentencing him to 18 months, Sheriff Mackenzie said: “You have a record of offending with violence – albeit largely on summary matters.
“But with regards to the first charge particularly, I cannot deal with this any other way than a custodial sentence due to your record and the seriousness of the matter.”
Quinn’s defence solicitor told the court that his client had been out drinking with his co-accused and that words seemed to have been exchanged with the victim.
He said that Quinn accepted his actions were “totally unacceptable”, and that he should not have been carrying a knife.
And the lawyer added that Quinn’s diagnosis of Asperger’s and ADHD had contributed to him getting “caught up with others and making bad decisions”.
Quinn’s co-accused Bryden has been given a final chance to attend an interview for a court report.
He is scheduled to return for sentencing on August 29.
