An Angus man has admitted taking “matters into his own hands” and assaulting a 16-year-old accused of slashing car tyres in Montrose.
Bryce Morison, 19, of Smallbank Steading in Laurencekirk, admitted punching the teenager on the head on January 4 in Murray Street, Montrose.
Forfar Sheriff Court heard the assault happened after Morison had accused the boy of vandalising car tyres in the Montrose area.
Depute fiscal Stewart Duncan said: “At 2am the complainer was walking on the High Street in Montrose when a black Vauxhall Astra car pulled alongside him.
“The accused, who was in the passenger’s seat, asked him if he was the person who slashed the tyres. The complainer said no.
“The vehicle drove off before turning round.
“The accused exited the vehicle and walked towards the complainer and asked him again if he was the person who slashed the tyres.
“The accused then punched him once to the face.
“The police were contacted and the accused was traced in the vehicle a short distance away.”
Defence agent Lynne Sturrock said several of Morison’s friends and family members had been out of pocket due to their cars being damaged.
She said: “The complainer in this case had been accused of destroying a number of vehicles in the Montrose area and that involved the tyres of the vehicles being slashed. There was a lot of media coverage about this.
“He had friends and family that had occurred great expense. He fully understands he should not have behaved in this way.
“He is well aware that it is not appropriate to take matters into his own hands.”
Morison, who works for an oil company in Edzell, appeared in court as a first offender.
“He is hoping the matter could come to a conclusion,” his defence agent continued.
“I don’t think he will come before the court again.
“He is ashamed of himself. He was in the vehicle with a number of other young people and it is not appropriate to say he was simply showing off as an assault took place.
“I note that there was no injury sustained by the complainer.”
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown deferred sentence for three months for Morison to be of good behaviour.
