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Man jailed for slashing schoolboy | Man jailed for slashing schoolboy |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A model citizen who attacked a 13-year-old boy with a razor after being tormented by youths has been jailed for six months. | A model citizen who attacked a 13-year-old boy with a razor after being tormented by youths has been jailed for six months. |
John Clark, 52, left the schoolboy scarred after flying into a rage because his fence had been vandalised. | John Clark, 52, left the schoolboy scarred after flying into a rage because his fence had been vandalised. |
Despite being told the boy was not responsible, Clark repeatedly slashed him in front of his parents. | Despite being told the boy was not responsible, Clark repeatedly slashed him in front of his parents. |
Clark, from Pitlochry, had denied the attack but was found guilty at a trial at Perth Sheriff Court. | Clark, from Pitlochry, had denied the attack but was found guilty at a trial at Perth Sheriff Court. |
Clark claimed his life had been made a "living hell" by local youths who had been throwing eggs and fruit at his windows. | Clark claimed his life had been made a "living hell" by local youths who had been throwing eggs and fruit at his windows. |
On 15 July last year, he snapped and attacked the teenager. | On 15 July last year, he snapped and attacked the teenager. |
He pushed the boy's father out of the way before using the blade to cut the child repeatedly on the arms and stomach. | He pushed the boy's father out of the way before using the blade to cut the child repeatedly on the arms and stomach. |
You were told by the boy's father he was not responsible for writing on your fence and you should have listened. Sheriff Robert McCreadie | You were told by the boy's father he was not responsible for writing on your fence and you should have listened. Sheriff Robert McCreadie |
The father said: "He was making a bee-line towards us in a determined fashion. He made a straight line to single out my son. | The father said: "He was making a bee-line towards us in a determined fashion. He made a straight line to single out my son. |
"There was blood running down his (my son's) arm. I couldn't understand what had happened. Mr Clark got to his feet and in his hand there was a cut-throat razor." | "There was blood running down his (my son's) arm. I couldn't understand what had happened. Mr Clark got to his feet and in his hand there was a cut-throat razor." |
During the fracas, the boy's mother discovered a Stanley knife which had been dropped and threw it over a bridge to keep it from Clark. | During the fracas, the boy's mother discovered a Stanley knife which had been dropped and threw it over a bridge to keep it from Clark. |
Clark's wife then ran from her home and was heard shouting: "John, what have you done? John, John, look what you've done." | Clark's wife then ran from her home and was heard shouting: "John, what have you done? John, John, look what you've done." |
The court was told that the razor was later found nearby while Clark admitted having the Stanley knife for gardening. | The court was told that the razor was later found nearby while Clark admitted having the Stanley knife for gardening. |
The youngster was left with a three-inch scar on his arm and was also cut on the other arm and in the stomach. | The youngster was left with a three-inch scar on his arm and was also cut on the other arm and in the stomach. |
'Learned lesson' | 'Learned lesson' |
Asked how he felt about the boy being injured, Clark said: "It's quite sickening to think about it and it's something that should never have taken place." | Asked how he felt about the boy being injured, Clark said: "It's quite sickening to think about it and it's something that should never have taken place." |
His solicitor Richard Lobjoie told the court: "He has a happy marriage and is a good-living, very hard-working man with no previous convictions. | His solicitor Richard Lobjoie told the court: "He has a happy marriage and is a good-living, very hard-working man with no previous convictions. |
"He is a tee-totaller who has never used drugs. He has expressed remorse, shame and regret. His behaviour appears to be out-of-character. | "He is a tee-totaller who has never used drugs. He has expressed remorse, shame and regret. His behaviour appears to be out-of-character. |
"He has learned a lesson in a very hard way in accepting his actions were wholly inappropriate." | "He has learned a lesson in a very hard way in accepting his actions were wholly inappropriate." |
Sheriff Robert McCreadie told Clark: "You are a first offender with an unblemished record till the age of 52 and at a low risk of further offending. | Sheriff Robert McCreadie told Clark: "You are a first offender with an unblemished record till the age of 52 and at a low risk of further offending. |
"You attacked a 13-year-old boy in the presence of his parents. I am satisfied you had experienced problems with harassment in the past, but there was no basis or justification whatsoever for such an attack. | "You attacked a 13-year-old boy in the presence of his parents. I am satisfied you had experienced problems with harassment in the past, but there was no basis or justification whatsoever for such an attack. |
"You were told by the boy's father he was not responsible for writing on your fence and you should have listened. Disgracefully, you did not." | "You were told by the boy's father he was not responsible for writing on your fence and you should have listened. Disgracefully, you did not." |
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