An Elgin teenager has been ordered to carry out unpaid work after admitting a drunken Christmas Eve attack on a stranger at a bus stop.
Ty McLellan was just 16 when he carried out the assault on a man as they waited for a bus in Fochabers almost three years ago.
Now aged 18, McLellan appeared in Elgin Sheriff Court to admit the attack, which left the man covered in cuts and scratches to his face.
Assault after missing several buses
McLellan also admitted a further charge of having a knife on an Elgin street last summer.
The court heard the teen had been out drinking with friends in a Fochabers park on December 24 2021 and had missed “several buses” in the run up to midnight.
Fiscal Sharon Ralph said McLellan was trying to get home to Elgin and was waiting for a bus on the town’s High Street.
During his wait, another man was also waiting for a bus, Ms Ralph said: “He seemed to be intoxicated.”
Victim’s glasses knocked off
At around 12.25am the man shouted something at McLellan, which prompted him to lash out.
“A number of blows were directed at the man by the accused,” Ms Ralph went on. “Then the accused heads back to the bus stop.”
Explaining that the incident was captured on CCTV, Ms Ralph said the victim can then be seen to be searching for something using the torch on his phone.
“He was looking for his glasses which had dislodged during the assault. He cannot see without them,” Ms Ralph said.
Attack was ‘all over social media’
As a bus arrived, McLellan walked back to the man and embraced him – the court was told.
“[McLellan] apologies to the man and gets on the bus to Elgin.
“The victim then phoned his wife and tells her he has been assaulted by a male, and that he threw the first punch.”
When McLellan returned home, he realised his trainers were blood-stained and was advised by friends to hand himself in as the whole incident was “all over social media”.
Ms Ralph said: “The victim had scratch marks on his face, swelling around the left side of his jaw and some cuts required to be glued shut.”
Knife charge
The court was then told that McLellan was found walking on McMillan Avenue in Elgin just before 8pm on August 8 last year carrying a knife – which was around four inches long and had a serrated edge.
McLellan’s defence agent Stephen Carty said his client was young at the time of the first offence and it had been fuelled by too much alcohol.
He added: “It has had a significant effect on him. He has reflected on his behaviour and has not left the house for some time.”
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood questioned why McLellan had been walking around with a knife
Mr Carty replied: “It was his birthday and he had been persuaded to go out by his sister – he had some reservations about going out.”
Sheriff Fleetwood ordered McLellan to pay his victim £300 compensation asking him directly how much he had on him in court.
Payment due now
McLellan replied to say £75 and was asked to hand that cash over to the bar immediately.
The remaining monies are to be repaid at £10 per week.
McLellan, of Calcoats Crescent, was also ordered to carry out 130 hours of unpaid work and placed under supervision for two years with a review in three months’ time on September 26.