Hamilton Teenager caged after stabbing pupil at school

Sep 11 2008

A HAMILTON teenager who stabbed a boy outside a secondary school has been caged for 18 months.

Lee Ging (16), of Church Street, repeatedly knifed the 15-year-old near the former Holy Cross High School last year.

Ging, and co-accused Kyle Anderson (16) stabbed the boy in the leg in Muir Street on September 19.

Both teenagers admitted the assault charges last month.

The former Holy Cross High School in the town currently houses Rutherglen’s Trinity High pupils while a new school is being constructed.

It is believed that both Ging and Anderson are former Holy Cross High pupils.

Hamilton Sheriff Court had heard the pair were engaged in an argument with some youths in the playground at around 1.45pm on September 19, 2007.

Anderson then gave Ging a knife, and the duo chased after a number of youngsters.

The 15-year-old ran away from the pair but he was stabbed in the leg after he stumbled and fell to the ground.

The assailants ran away and the boy made his way to a teacher and told her he thought he had been stabbed.

He was taken to Wishaw General Hospital and treated for a stab wound to his leg.

The boy’s mum, who spoke to the Advertiser at the time, of the incident said: “My boy is lucky he is still alive and able to tell us the story. He is now okay.

“I received a phone call from a teacher who said that my son had been stabbed.

“I shouted at the teacher, saying ‘What do you mean, he has been stabbed?’

“At the time, I didn’t know how bad it was and you fear the worst.”

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last week, Ging appeared for sentence.

Solicitor Nicholas Scullion told the court Ging was “immature for a 16-year-old”.

He added: “He sought approval from his peers. He has been a waste of space until he started employment as an apprentice bricklayer with his father.”

“He has since stayed away from the group who he was involved with at the time of the incident.”

Mr Scullion said Ging understood the seriousness of the offence, but added: “There is a real chance to give this boy an opportunity in life.”

Sheriff Danny Scullion, however, rejected the solicitor’s plea for probation.

The Sheriff stated that no disposal other than a custodial sentence in a young offenders institution was appropriate.

He added: “The fact that the boy was not more seriously injured is only through luck.”

Co-accused Kyle Anderson (16), who has also admitted knifing the boy, failed to turn up for sentence last week.

His address was previously given as Dechmont Street, Hamilton, but he was bailed last month to another address in Brackenhill Drive, also Hamilton.

His solicitor told the court he was on holiday in Berwick with his mother.

A warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest.

Trinity High School pupils moved into Holy Cross High last August and will remain there for the forthcoming school year.