THE CURRENT craze for “happy slapping” resulted in a teenage Perthshire school pupil appearing in court yesterday.

Rory Watson (16), of Easter Caputh Farm, lashed out on a school bus after a gang of youths used a mobile telephone to record an assault on his person.

The teenager, who was expelled from St Columba’s High School in Perth after the offence, is now a pupil at Breadalbane Academy, Aberfeldy.

Perth Sheriff Court heard Watson admit that, on October 29, last year, on a school bus travelling from St Columba’s to Luncarty, he assaulted a 13-year-old boy, punching him in the face to his injury.

The accused had apparently been repeatedly bullied by a gang of youths on the bus and hit out as he had reached the end of his tether.

After the incident, the complainer was taken to Perth Royal Infirmary as he had sustained a number of injuries.

A prefect at his new school, Watson is now also receiving anger management help from a guidance teacher.

Depute fiscal Nicola Gillespie gave details of the incident.

“The locus of the offence was a school bus travelling from St Columba’s in Perth to Luncarty,” she explained.

“The complainer was among a group on the bus and the accused was sitting in the seat opposite.

“They were speaking and the mood was quite good until for some reason it changed as the bus approached Luncarty.

“The accused got out of his seat and punched the complainer in the face,” Ms Gillespie continued.

“He managed to get off the bus and ran home. He had suffered grazes to the head, had two black eyes and a cut to the inside of his mouth.

“He was taken to Perth Royal Infirmary but released without treatment.”

Solicitor Jamie Baxter said there had been a large element of intimidation prior to Watson’s attack.

“There was a history of provocation between the group the complainer was with and the accused,” he commented.

“On this occasion they had been kicking him on the legs on the bus—it was the third day in a row that had taken place on the way home.”

Mr Baxter said one of the complainer’s friends had used a mobile phone to video the attack—a practice known as “happy slapping.”

He added that Watson had been expelled from St Columba’s but that he had been moved to Breadalbane in any event in a bid to get away from his tormentors.

Sheriff Robert McCreadie said he had listened “very carefully” to all that had been said and deferred sentence until December 7 for good behaviour.

“I accept that there appears to have been a large degree of provocation afforded to you before you took action,” he remarked.

“I have also noted a positive report from your school and the fact you have been receiving anger management help from your guidance teacher.

“Nevertheless, such behaviour is unacceptable.

“In all the circumstances I will defer sentence for six months for you to be of good behaviour.

“I hope you make positive progress between now and the end of the year.”