Party reject knocked out man with piece of wood

Published 26 Jan 2012 08:00

A TEENAGER knocked out a man with a piece of wood after he didn't get in to a birthday party, Alloa Sheriff Court heard.

David Turnbull (19) struck his victim with the object and then he and Robert McGill (20) punched him as he lay on the ground.

The court heard that after the beating the man was kept in hospital for four days to monitor his condition.

Scans of his head revealed no injuries.

Sheriff David Mackie sentenced both Turnbull and McGill, of Hillview Terrace, Tillicoultry, to a 12 months Community Payback Order with the condition of 240 hours and 100 hours unpaid work, respectively.

The pair appeared on Thursday and pled guilty to the assault at Stoneyacre, Tillicoultry on 26 June last year.

Fiscal depute Lindsay Brooks said Turnbull had gone to an address in Stoneyacre with another male to attend a birthday party.

She said, "They were not allowed in to the party. Instead they sat in the grassy area at the back of the house. They were drinking and made other attempts to get in to the party."

The party ended after a window was broken at the back of the house and the complainer and a friend chased after some people he thought were responsible.

Ms Brooks went on, "There was then a fight that took place. Around that time McGill, who was in an address nearby, received a phonecall about someone he knew who had been assaulted. He came out and involved himself in what was going on."

She said that Turnbull picked up a piece of wood and struck the complainer on the head causing him to fall.

As he lay on the ground Turnbull and McGill both punched him causing him to lose consciousness.

Defending McGill, solicitor Mr Moncreiff said his client had gone to protect his friend.

He said, "It is accepted that he was assaulted by the piece of wood and he was treated for concussion. It was the case that the complainer assaulted him with the wood and was disarmed by co-accused Turnbull who used it against the complainer."

Turnbull further pled guilty to failing to appear at court and breaking in to the Red Lion Inn, Tillicoultry and stealing £700 of cash on 20 December 2010. Other charges of breach of the peace, smashing a window with a metal pole in Moss Road and assault on 26 March 2011 were also admitted.

Defending Turnbull, George Higgins said his client had a problem with drink and drugs but had cleaned himself up in the last five months.

He said, "He has distanced himself from some associates and is stopping taking drugs. This is a catalogue of offences of some seriousness. He is trying to turn his life around in a positive direction to avoid going back into that situation."

Sentencing Turnbull, Sheriff David Mackie warned him, "What I have in front of me would justify me sending you to a Young Offenders Institution. But I recognise that you have made progress and to send you to custody now would be in my view a retrograde step."

He ordered the teenager to pay £700 in compensation for the money he stole.

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This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 25 Jan 12

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