Alness teen launched savage attack at drinking party in woods
AN EASTER Ross youth who launched a savage, unprovoked attack on his cousin and stamped on his head during a drinking party has been locked up for 16 months.
First offender Adam Muir (19) of Teaninich Street, Alness, appeared at Dingwall Sheriff Court after earlier pleading guilty on indictment to assaulting Konnor Seel (16) to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement in Assynt Wood, Evanton, on July 17 last year.
Muir headbutted the teenager on the face, knocked him to the ground, repeatedly punched and kicked him on the head and body, repeatedly stamped on his head, and brandished a knife at him.
Procurator fiscal Alasdair MacDonald said a group of youngsters had been drinking in the woods.
Mr Seel had been previously assaulted by someone else who was present, but that was over and done with by the time Muir attacked him. It was a completely unprovoked assault, Mr MacDonald said.
It was difficult to assess the effect of Mr Seel’s injuries because he suffered from a pre-existing condition which impaired the vision in the left eye, the court heard. It was his left cheek and left side of his nose that were injured in the assault.
“Since the attack Konnor has complained that his vision has decreased, and that does appear to be the case following tests,” the fiscal said. However, he added, experts said there was no clinical evidence of any new injury to the eye.
“It is clearly the victim’s perception that his eye wasn’t as bad as it is now but, medically, it is virtually impossible to say.”
Mr Seel had also been suffering anxiety attacks since the attack and had been prescribed medication, the fiscal added.
Defence solicitor David Hingston did not accept his client was responsible for any eye injury. There had been a prior assault which had nothing to do with Muir, and there was evidence to suggest Mr Seel had fallen and hit his head on a tree stump, he said.
“The reason for this is primarily alcohol. Most of the young people present had been drinking excessively,” said Mr Hingston.
Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen told Muir it had been a sustained and prolonged attack.
“You could have walked away at any time, but you chose to continue and to escalate your attack,” said the Sheriff, sending him to detention for 16 months.
