JUST over a week after receiving community service for another assault, a Hawick teenager repeatedly punched a man he had earlier accused of staring at him in a local nightclub.
Seventeen-year-old Lee Johnstone, who later described his victim as a "poof" was fined £335 and ordered to pay him £250 compensation.
Johnsto
ne of Ramsay Road, admitted repeatedly punching a man on the head in Hawick's Laidlaw Terrace on August 3, causing him to fall against a fence to his injury.
The complainer was said to have predicted his assailant could look forward to a jail term on his BEBO website page.
At Jedburgh Sheriff Court last Thursday, the accused was also banned from Diesel's nightclub for 12 months.
Depute fiscal Gavin Dawson told how the accused and the complainer had both been in the nightclub prior to the offence, when Johnstone had been calling him names.
"After they left, another comment was made by the accused about the complainer being a poof," explained Mr Dawson.
Johnstone punched the man several times on the head, causing him to fall against a fence.
The victim was treated for redness and swelling to his face, and a small cut.
Defence agent Mark Harrower said Johnstone had been at the nightclub with friends when he claimed the victim was "staring at him.
"He didn't know who he was, but was advised about his sexuality, and then reacted in this disgraceful manner," said Mr Harrower.
The agent said Johnstone claimed the man had stretched out his hand, as if to touch him, before he called him names and then punched him.
He said the victim had voiced his views about the incident on his BEBO website page, predicting Johnstone would face jail.
"He committed this assault just shortly after being put on community service for another assault, so he knows that custody is likely," added Mr Harrower.
"He needs to learn to walk away and be accepting of all people in society," he concluded.
Sheriff Kevin Drummond told Johnstone: "You are 17 and before me for your third offence of assault.
"This was committed not long after you were given community service at court in Edinburgh.
"The choice is a stark one but a jail sentence, although thoroughly deserving, would require to be relatively short and you would only serve half of that sentence, so I wonder how meaningful that would be.
"You will be paying this fine for some time, which will serve as a reminder to you, and I warn you now that any further offending and you will go to jail," he concluded.
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