Superned makes his return... to jail

Published 21 Jul 2010 11:49

SELF-PROCLAIMED 'Superned' Eddie Eccles is back in jail.

The 23-year-old was given a total of 15 months behind bars for producing a knife and making threats, and repeatedly punching a man in the face.

Sheriff David Mackie sentenced him to custody despite pleas from his lawyer that he wished to travel to Aberdeen in August to see his child's first day of school.

It was in the Granite City six years earlier that he started a new life with his then-pregnant girlfriend after he was banned from most of Central Scotland for leading a teenage terror gang in Alva.

Later the bail order was lifted to allow him to return to the area to see family and friends.

However, he was unable to stay out of trouble and has appeared in court on several occasions since.

Last October he was jailed for stabbing a 13-year-old boy with a pitchfork in a series of drink-fuelled attacks in Bannockburn.

Eccles was released in December but was back in custody just months later for an incident in Sauchie's Main Street and Gartmorn Road on 24/25 March which a jury found him guilty of committing a breach of the peace by making threats of violence after pulling out a knife.

On Monday Eccles, formerly of Blindwells in Alva, appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court where he was sentenced to nine months in custody.

He was sentenced to a further six months after he pled guilty to punching a 30-year-old man in the face in Alva's Johnstone Street on 14 April last year.

Fiscal depute Gillian Taylor said the complainer was in his car parked outside his home address in the town making a phone call when he saw Eccles and another man approach the vehicle and try to open the door.

She said, "The complainer reversed the vehicle and went to drive forward when the accused and the other male stood in front of the car.

"He then got out of the car and asked them to leave.

"There was an exchange of words and the complainer was punched in the face by Eccles."

Reading from a background report, Eccles' defence agent George Higgins said there was a "history of difficulties" between Eccles and the complainer over a few years.

He went on, "It seems as if it was a tit for tat background but he tells me there has been no trouble with the complainer since the incident.

"He feels the vehicle was driven at him and the other man."

Mr Higgins added that Eccles' ex-girlfriend was pregnant with his child - due in November - and that he wished to travel to Aberdeen to see his child from a previous relationship start school in August.

He asked that his client be spared custody to tackle his addiction to valium and his alcohol problem.

However Sheriff Mackie would not be persuaded.

He told Eccles, "Your record, which includes a number of serious offences of violence and one conviction where you armed yourself, has led me to conclude that a custodial sentence is appropriate."

Sentence was backdated to 26 March when he was remanded in custody.

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.

At one stage Eccles, then still only 15, marched down the Main Street shouting, "I run Alva".

He also threatened to "bomb" police officers and bit one on the leg when being restrained.

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