Community service for attack on stranger

May 13 2011 by Stephen Robertson, Stirling Observer Friday

A TEENAGER who left a total stranger bleeding after an unprovoked attack in Stirling has avoided time behind bars.

George Grant (18) launched the attack on his 23-year-old victim in a pedestrian underpass at Laurencecroft Road on November 19.

At Grant’s appearance in court in March, he was told that he could face a custodial sentence for the attack.

On that occasion, fiscal depute Gillian Taylor told the court: “It was 10.30pm and the complainer was walking home from Stirling city centre.

“Walking through the underground passageway on to Laurencecroft Road he was approached by two males. One of them was the accused.”

The other of the two asked the man if he was from Hillpark but the victim replied that he was from Cornton, and attempted to walk away.

The fiscal depute continued: “One of the males shouted something towards him, he turned round and the accused punched him on the face.”

Grant repeatedly punched his victim on the head, causing him to fall to the ground, then kicked him on the body before walking off.

The injured man, who was said to “bleeding heavily from his face” went home but reported the matter to police a few days later. There, he was seen to have two black eyes and swelling to his nose.

Grant, of Ochil Crescent, Stirling, pleaded guilty to the assault.

Solicitor Ken Dalling said that, while Grant had admitted the assault, it was his client’s position that the other man threw the first punch.

The case had been deferred until this week to check on how Grant was progressing with an ongoing probation order. At Stirling Sheriff Court for sentencing on Wednesday, Sheriff William Gilchrist was told by Mr Dalling that the probation progress report was “very positive”.

Sentencing Grant for the November offence, the sheriff told him: “The report indicates that you are complying with the existing order.

“In relation to this offence I am going to impose a community service order of 180 hours.”

The sheriff said that the order would have been for 240 hours were it not for Grant’s guilty plea.