A 17-year-old from Keith spared jail after attacking a man with a hammer in Buckie, fracturing his skull. Community payback order given.
A 17-year-old from Keith spared jail after attacking a man with a hammer in Buckie, fracturing his skull. Community payback order given.
Keith Teen Avoids Jail for Buckie Hammer Attack on Man’s Head
The attack happened on East Church Street last April. Police found the abandoned rucksack later, containing a knife. The teen made a statement upon his arrest.
He said the man approached him and seemed unwell. He admitted pulling out the hammer and hitting him but said he stopped because he felt scared.
The prosecutor said things started at an ATM. Words were exchanged near a bus stop, leading to both people becoming aggressive and throwing punches. Then, the teen used the hammer.
The victim fell after the hammer strikes, and witnesses stopped him from retaliating. He suffered a fractured skull, brain bruising, and a head cut.
The teen’s lawyer said he felt threatened and is sorry, knowing he did too much. He admitted to having the knife earlier in court and also admitted to the assault.
The sheriff learned this was his first offense. He now has a community payback order from another incident, leading her to decide against jail time.
Instead, he must stay home from 7 PM to 7 AM for nine months. Also, he must do 210 hours of unpaid community work.
The sheriff called the crime very serious, emphasizing that the public needed protection and the teen needed support. She noted that jail would have been years if he were older.
The sheriff emphasized that he was getting housing and staying out of trouble. His parents also provided helpful support.
The attack happened on East Church Street last April. Police found the abandoned rucksack later, containing a knife. The teen made a statement upon his arrest.
He said the man approached him and seemed unwell. He admitted pulling out the hammer and hitting him but said he stopped because he felt scared.
The prosecutor said things started at an ATM. Words were exchanged near a bus stop, leading to both people becoming aggressive and throwing punches. Then, the teen used the hammer.
The victim fell after the hammer strikes, and witnesses stopped him from retaliating. He suffered a fractured skull, brain bruising, and a head cut.
The teen’s lawyer said he felt threatened and is sorry, knowing he did too much. He admitted to having the knife earlier in court and also admitted to the assault.
The sheriff learned this was his first offense. He now has a community payback order from another incident, leading her to decide against jail time.
Instead, he must stay home from 7 PM to 7 AM for nine months. Also, he must do 210 hours of unpaid community work.
The sheriff called the crime very serious, emphasizing that the public needed protection and the teen needed support. She noted that jail would have been years if he were older.
The sheriff emphasized that he was getting housing and staying out of trouble. His parents also provided helpful support.