Hamilton teen walks free after attacking female shop assistants with knife and bottle
A teenager who attacked female shop assistants with a knife and a bottle has been spared custody after a sheriff said his rehabilitation has to come first.
The boy was only 16 when he robbed staff of alcohol at a Spar in Cypress Lane, Hamilton. He had his face covered but was still recognised as a regular customer. Now 17, he admitted assault and robbery at the store on April 4 last year.
Rebecca Clark, prosecuting, told Hamilton Sheriff Court: "He jumped over an unmanned counter and took two bottles from a shelf. One of the female assistants tried to intercept him at which point he raised a Buckfast wine bottle over his head and struck her on the body.
READ MORE: Moment Glasgow councillor is almost 'knocked from bike' in near-miss with car
READ MORE: Lanarkshire carer trapped in car with dying colleague calls for better support for victims
"There was a short struggle and the boy reached into his pocket and brought out a knife, lunging at the female. She released her grip and he jumped back over the counter.
"The second assistant tried to block his exit and he thrust the knife at her. She put her hand up in a defensive motion and he struck her on the hand with the knife. Fortunately, the injury sustained was a very minor scratch."
The teenager, who is too young to be named, also admitted an unrelated charge of threatening or abusive behaviour, reports Lanarkshire Live.
That involved him and two others shouting abuse and threats at two women at a house in St Ninian's Road, Hamilton, on January 26 last year. For that offence he has been referred to Hamilton's structured deferred sentence court which oversees intensive social work support for offenders.
Sheriff Linda Nicolson deferred sentence on the robbery charge to see how he progresses on the SDS scheme. She told the teenager: "You have pleaded guilty to a very serious matter that in many instances would automatically attract a period of custody.
"But there is a significant background with you and also a significant and real prospect of rehabilitation. You are a very young man and I certainly think rehabilitation should be, and is, at the forefront of my mind.
"The structured deferred sentence court has been very successful for young people and I would like to look into that."
Defence lawyer John McLaughlin said his client is "enthusiastic" about the opportunity.
Sign up to our daily Glasgow Live newsletter here to receive news and features direct to your inbox
Join Glasgow Live's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.