Alva 'Superned' jailed for pitchfork attack

Published 7 Oct 2009 17:11

THE self-proclaimed "superned" who inspired Scotland's anti-social behaviour laws was jailed for eight months on Wednesday after stabbing a 13-year-old boy with a pitchfork.

Edmond Eccles (22) punched one teenager, then stabbed the 13-year-old twice with the agricultural implement, before running at other youths with a knife in a drink-fuelled series of attacks.

Eccles was banned by bail order from most of Central Scotland nearly six years ago, after leading a teenage terror gang which made life misery for shopkeepers and residents in Alva.

But he started a new life in Aberdeen, and later the order was lifted to allow him to return to Central Scotland to see family and friends.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard the pitchfork incident occurred on 21 August this year after Eccles had gone to Bannockburn to visit a friend.

When Eccles' friend was allegedly "threatened" by a group of teenagers, Eccles launched a series of attacks. He punched one youth on the mouth before retreating to the home of his friend's girlfriend.

He returned outside with the pitchfork, and stabbed the 13-year-old boy in the arm. He later ran at the group with a knife, causing them to flee.

Gail Russell, the depute fiscal, told Stirling Sheriff Court that the youth had suffered two puncture wounds in the pitchfork attack, which occurred just before 8pm.

Miss Russell said, "Witnesses saw the accused punch the teenager in the mouth then run off from the area.

"He appeared to take refuge in a house in the area. A 13-year-old saw him run away shouting 'let me in, there's police coming. I've just battered someone'.

"Later he was seen with a pitchfork, and was seen to stab the teenager in the arm with the pitchfork. The witness was 13 years old at the time.

"He returned to the house in St Catherine Street. He then ran at the youths with a knife. The youths ran away.

"The police found him at the address in St Catherine Street, and later found the pitchfork.

Miss Russell said that when police later cautioned and charged Eccles, he told them, "It's all crap."

She added, "The youth had two puncture marks on his left arm. One below the elbow and one on the forearm, but did not require medical treatment."

Eccles, of Blindwells, Alva, pleaded guilty to assaulting the teenagers in Bannockburn, and possessing the knife.

Defence solicitor, Stephen Maguire, said that Eccles had had a lot on his mind at the time of the attack, and was "highly intoxicated".

Sheriff Andrew Cubie told Eccles he had "no option" but to impose a custodial sentence.

He said, "Your previous record includes eight convictions for assault, one for police assault, one conviction for offensive weapons and four breaches of special conditions of bail, so hopefully you will use the time you're in prison wisely, to think about the seriousness of your behaviour."

Eccles claimed the title "Superned" for himself in 2004 when he appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court to be sentenced for 17 offences of assault, theft, housebreaking and vandalism in Alva while he ran the hooligan gang.

The crime spree began in January 2003 and threatened to bring the ftown to its knees.

At one stage Eccles, then still only 15, marched through down the main street shouting, "I run Alva."

A policeman who tried to restrain him was bitten on the leg - right through the serge of his uniformed trousers.

Other cops were told by Eccles, "I'll get a bomb and blow you up. I'll kill your family. I'll murder your children. I'll be chopping your heads off,

shooting your family and setting you on fire, great balls of fire, I'm a psycho."

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