An “out of control” youth assaulted two schoolboys and in another attack smashed a baseball bat over a child’s head.

The 16-year-old, from Fishcross, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in the dock at Alloa Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on June 16, he broke into the premises of Baynes the Bakers, Stirling Street, Alva, and stole food and drink items.

On June 19 at Brook Street, Alva, he assaulted a 14-year-old schoolboy by striking him to the head to his injury.

He then assaulted a second boy, also 14, by striking him on the head, pursuing him on to the road, dragging him to the ground and then striking him on the head and body all to his injury.

The youth also admitted that on September 2, at the Day Today store, Stirling Street, Alva, he assaulted a boy, aged 14.

He struck him to the head with a baseball bat causing the bat to break, pushed him on the body against a parked vehicle and punched him on the head, all to his injury.

He also breached his bail conditions which had ordered him to stay out of Alva, imposed on August 28.

Defence solicitor Robert Smith said the two schoolboys had made “appalling remarks” about his client’s mum.

He went on: “He had taken offence to these remarks and he’s now extremely remorseful for his actions.

The solicitor blamed “peer pressure” for the other offences, adding: “He comes from an upstanding family and these offences are completely out of character for him.”

Sheriff Neil Bowie said: “It seems like he’s completely out of control. If he continues in this manner there will only be one outcome.”

The sheriff put the youth on a restriction of liberty order for 200 days. He also imposed a structured deferred sentence for six months and the youth will return to court on April 25.

The sheriff warned the youth that would be heading to Polmont young offenders’ institution if he carried on in the same way.