A teenager who was locked up last year for the rape of a boy has avoided an increased sentence behind bars despite admitting to a brutal assault and robbery in Aberdeen.
Declan Morrison, also known as Brown, appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted beating up the man who he had asked to meet in a lane to buy drugs.
He then stole his victim’s necklace before leaving the scene.
Morrison, now 19, was found guilty at a High Court trial in Aberdeen last year on charges that he raped one victim at a play park in the Sheddocksley area of Aberdeen in 2015 when both boys were 12.
He was also found guilty by majority of attempting to rape an eight-year-old boy in the same year.
Morrison was sentenced to two-and-a-half years of detention and placed on the sex offender’s register.
‘Give me everything you’ve got’
On the new charges, fiscal depute Dylan Middleton told the court that on the evening of August 23 2021 Morrison called a man he knew and asked him if he could source drugs for him.
As the man approached the lane where they’d agreed to meet Morrison came up to him and demanded “everything he had”.
The man stated that he didn’t have anything and Morrison produced what looked like a knife.
“The accused then put the object in his waistband and began to repeatedly punch the complainer and rifled through his pockets, stating ‘give me everything you’ve got’,” Mr Middleton told the court.
“The complainer was kicked to the leg during the course of the incident and when he picked up his glasses from the ground, which had been knocked off his face while being punched, the accused pulled the complainer’s chain from his neck.”
The incident, which was captured on CCTV, lasted around five minutes.
During the attack, the man was able to call 999, where a call handler heard the victim in a state of distress tell Morrison: “I would give it to you if I had it I swear.”
When police traced Morrison to a block of flats he struggled with the officers before being taken into custody.
Mr Middleton told the court Morrison’s victim suffered a 2-3cm laceration above his right eye, which has left a scar.
Morrison pleaded guilty to one charge of assault and robbery.
He also admitted a further charge of resisting arrest.
Accused ‘wants to leave criminality behind him’
Defence agent Andrew Ormiston told the court that while serving a period of detention Morrison had “matured” and was showing “positive signs” of rehabilitation.
“It seems that in recent months Mr Morrison has availed himself of the services within the prison and wants to leave criminality behind him.
“He has taken positive steps in prison and can be trusted in a community setting upon his release.”
Sheriff Ian Wallace told Morrison: “This is another serious matter of which you have been convicted.
“However, the charge to which you have pled guilty is less serious than the ones which you were originally charged with.”
As an alternative to an increased time in custody – which is due to end next month – Sheriff Ian Wallace sentenced Morrison, whose address was given as HMP Polmont, to a community payback order with supervision for 30 months.
He also ordered him to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work on his release.
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