Vicious thug (17) awaits sentence for street attack

Jan 29 2009

A HAMILTON yob hit a man on the head with a wooden bat for being ‘disrespectful.’

Paul Lindsay attacked Charles Rocks near Hamilton West railway station because he had refused to respond to a demand for his ‘name and number.’

Seventeen-year-old Lindsay, of 52 William Street, was one of a group of thugs who surrounded Mr Rocks as he was walking home from a night out.

The attack, which occurred on William Street on September 12 last year, left 32-year-old Mr Rocks with a two-inch gash on his head, bruising to his back and concussion.

Fiscal depute Barry Dunne told Hamilton Sheriff Court last Thursday that Mr Rocks had left a pub in Hamilton town centre at about 11.30pm.

While making his way home on foot he saw two males - one Lindsay and the other whose identity is unknown - on William Street a quarter-of-an-hour later.

Lindsay repeatedly shouted at him, demanding ‘name and number’, but Mr Rocks ignored him.

However, the victim then heard one of them say: ‘He’s being disrespectful. Will we get him?’ and someone responding ‘yes.’

Lindsay and his companion met up with another group, also in William Street, and the pack of thugs then encircled Mr Rocks and threatened him, saying: ‘You are going to get it.’

One of the group tried to throw a punch at him but failed, and Mr Rocks responded by striking out with his fist, but he also failed to land a blow.

Lindsay then whacked Mr Rocks on the head with the bat and another member of his group kicked him on the back, causing him to fall to the ground.

The fiscal said the accused again struck Mr Rocks with the bat while he was lying on the ground, and the whole group, including Lindsay, repeatedly punched and kicked their victim on the head and body as he lay there.

The court was told the assault was observed by a number of residents. The fiscal added: “During the course of the assault one member of the group was seen to be in possession of a knife and another member of the group was observed striking the complainer on the head with a bottle.

“The witnesses contacted the police and shortly thereafter a motorist sounded a horn and at that stage the group dispersed.”

Mr Rocks went to a friend’s house nearby and police attended. His wounds were later treated in hospital.

Mr Dunn said Mr Rocks had lost the senses of taste and smell for two months after the attack, and they have still to return completely.

Lindsay pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Mr Rocks to his severe injury and permanent impairment.

Not guilty pleas to two further - very serious - assaults involving a knife were, however, accepted by the Crown.

One had stated that Lindsay had struck Charles Harvey (27) on the head with a knife at 52 William Street on September 27 last year to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment.

The other had stated that Lindsay had attacked Stephen Reynolds (24), at the same locus and on the same date, by stabbing him on the body with a knife to his injury.

Sheriff Joyce Powrie deferred sentence on Lindsay - currently a prisoner at Polmont Young Offenders’ Institution - until February 17 for a full range of reports.