Community service for thug who attacked girl

Oct 9 2008 by Our Correspondent, West Lothian Courier

A THUG who attacked a complete stranger on a busy Bathgate street has been ordered to carry out community service.

The victim was standing outside the Newlands pub on Hopetoun Street with her friends shortly after closing time on April 13 when Craig Coyne struck.

Paul Beaton, procurator fiscal depute, told Linlithgow Sheriff Court that Coyne was heard shouting towards her from a nearby corner.

Mr Beaton added: “Coyne then ran towards her and grabbed her by the throat and threw her to the ground.

“He was restrained by her friends before making off and was later detained by the police.”

Last week Coyne, whose address was given as 33 Ash Grove, Blackburn, admitted the offence.

His solicitor, Andy Aitken, told the court his client was struggling to come to terms with the death of a relative.

He continued: “He is drinking to deal with it and this is when he offends.

“He is a man who has amassed a fairly significant number of convictions in terms of disorder.

“He is already on probation for other offences.”

Sentencing Coyne to 160 hours of community service Sheriff James Gilmour said: “This was an assault on someone unknown to you as I understand it and that is quite an appalling way to behave.

“I feel the only way I can deal with this is by a community service order as a direct alternative to a custodial sentence.

“If you do not undertake the hours you can be brought back to court and you could get a custodial sentence.”