A pair of youths who were part of a “baying mob” which battered a woman with learning difficulties have been banned from Dunfermline town centre if they are in a group of more than three people.
A 17-year-old who took part in the savage attack is now behind bars, while a 16-year-old accomplice who held a lighter flame to their victim’s hair, narrowly avoided a custodial sentence at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
Both thugs have been made subject to a five-year anti-social behaviour order which bans them from being part of a group of more than three people in the centre.
A 17-year-old female was also involved in the assault but did not attend for sentencing, claiming to be sick.
None of the attackers can be named because the law bans the identification of offenders under the age of 18.
All three admitted that on September 9 last year at Dunfermline bus station, whilst acting with others, they assaulted the woman by repeatedly spitting on her head and body, repeatedly kicking her on the body, causing her to fall to the ground.
The 16-year-old admitted a second charge of repeatedly putting a lighter to the woman’s head and putting a flame at her head.
The victim, who is in her 40s and has learning difficulties, was repeatedly surrounded by a group of more than 20 teenagers.
Her ordeal lasted around 25 minutes and was captured on CCTV and police were yesterday questioned over their response.
The bus station was still open at the time, around 11pm, with buses arriving and leaving. Other passengers waiting for their buses looked on but nobody went to the woman’s assistance before the police eventually arrived.
After watching the disturbing scenes in court, a sheriff said it was “remarkable” the police did not arrive earlier, with the incident being followed throughout by CCTV operators.
Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf previously said in court: “It’s a particularly nasty and distasteful offence on a woman in her 40s and who has learning difficulties.
“She was extremely upset when police arrived. The woman is vulnerable and has mental health issues. When police arrived her hair was covered by spit.
“The three accused were part of a larger group. They were baying around her and seemed to be focusing their actions on the woman because of her vulnerability.”
Sheriff Charles MacNair described the behaviour as “truly horrifying”.
He added: “The Crown previously described, entirely accurately that you had formed part of a baying mob and the complainer was clearly a very vulnerable person.
“Twenty years ago you would have appeared in the High Court for mobbing and rioting, instead you have been charged with assault.
“It was committed in a public place, namely the bus station. It’s becoming notorious that groups of youths are gathering at the bus station and at Tesco to the alarm of members of the public in Dunfermline.”
The 17-year-old, from Dunfermline, was sentenced to 160 days detention at the young offenders institution.
The 16-year-old, from Rosyth, was put on a community payback order with 300 hours of unpaid work.
The sheriff was unimpressed by a comment from this accused’s defence solicitor that he was “only a schoolboy at the time”.
Sheriff MacNair told the youth: “You knew perfectly well what you were doing.”
The third offender will be sentenced on July 6.
Superintendent Derek McEwan, of Fife Police Division, said: “Police Scotland is aware of the comments of the sheriff and are in the process of reviewing the circumstances in detail.
“We agree entirely that this was a shocking incident with the behaviour of the youths completely deplorable and unacceptable.
“As soon as local officers were made aware of the incident, they responded immediately.”
