Father attacks teenage boys accused of bullying his son

Published 8 Dec 2011 08:00

A 44-YEAR-OLD father who beat up three teenagers accused of bullying his son was told he was lucky not to be jailed, Alloa Sheriff Court heard.

John Crawford "lost the plot" with the boys after he bumped into them on the way to the shops.

During the assault, Crawford raged, "You think you're hard hitting my boy?"

A person working in the nearby allotments saw the incident and called the police. Crawford was found at his home address later that night.

Sheriff Kenneth McGowan placed him on a 12-month Community Payback Order including 200 hours unpaid work.

He told Crawford he was "lucky" not to be sent to jail, due to his responsibilities as a family man.

Crawford, of Chapelle Crescent, Tillicoultry, appeared on Thursday and pled guilty to the three charges of assault on 22 April.

Fiscal depute Sue Ruta said at about 9.15pm on the date libelled, two of the complainers - both aged 15-years-old - were on the footpath on Chapelle Crescent they saw Crawford walking towards them.

She said, "On reaching them the accused immediately punched one of the teenagers to the head. On seeing this the second teenager shouted at the accused to leave him alone. The accused then turned his attention to him and punched him to the head causing him to fall to the ground. Whilst he was there Crawford continued to punch him to the head and body."

A 16-year-old friend of the two teenagers arrived and Crawford punched him on the mouth before the assault ended.

Brian Allison, defending, said his client was fully aware that his actions were unacceptable.

He said, "Mr Crawford had been made aware of bullying of his son who is 15 years old, same as the complainers. He had a chance encounter with the complainers while he was on his way to the local shop.

"Mr Crawford understands that he should not have acted as libelled and regrets his actions. He lost the plot on this occasion when he came across the complainers."

Sheriff McGowan ordered Crawford to pay the complainers £200 each in compensation.

He warned him, "This was an unprovoked assault and with your record would ordinarily have led straight to custody.

"You have to consider yourself very lucky indeed that you're not going to jail. The only thing saving you is, though you have a record, there has been a bit of a gap and you seem to be a working man and supporting a family and behaving in a responsible manner."

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This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 07 Dec 11

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