Warrant issued for youth’s arrest

Apr 10 2008

A LANARKSHIRE youth this week failed to turn up for a probation review set for the day after he was given the sentence.

Eighteen-year-old Hugh Rodger was put on a two-year probation order at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Monday for recklessly discharging an air rifle and severely injuring a child.

Rodger, of Murray Drive, Stonehouse, had also admitted a charge of failing to appear for sheriff and jury proceedings at Hamilton Sheriff Court in August last year.

On Monday, Sheriff Vincent Smith set a condition of Rodger’s probation that he attend all probation review hearings — the first of which was the following day, Tuesday, April 8.

However, Rodger failed to turn up at that hearing and Sheriff Smith granted a warrant for his arrest.

Earlier this year, Rodger had pleaded guilty to the charge of recklessly discharging an air rifle.

As a result of Rodger’s actions, a boy aged between 12 and 14 was severely injured and permanently impaired.

Rodger had inserted a plastic stick into the barrel of the firearm, and when he fired the gun the stick lodged in the boy’s eye.

Further conditions of Rodger’s two-year probation order were that he attend alcohol counselling when directed to do so by his super vising officer and that he remain within his home address between the hours of 6pm and 6am seven days a week for a period of three months.