Gatecrasher stabbed reveller at party

Jul 22 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A TEENAGER who gatecrashed a New Year’s party ended up stabbing one reveller in the back after an argument.

Dylan Nicholson turned up uninvited at a party taking place at Abercorn Place in Winchburgh on December 31 last year.

And after getting involved in a row with a partygoer the 17-year-old, who was on probation at the time for another assault, stabbed him on the shoulder blade.

Senior fiscal depute John Barclay said the assault took place just after midnight on January 1.

“For reasons unknown the accused instigated an argument with the complainer,” Mr Barclay said.

“The complainer was in the rear garden of the house and at this time he was in the company of two other young people.

“The accused grabbed him and an argument broke out. That argument evolved into a brief struggle between the two.

“The complainer then attempted to retreat into the house. As he made his way up the garden stairs the accused was seen to punch the complainer on the back of his right shoulder.

“It appears the accused had punched the complainer whilst holding a small knife in his hand.

“The witnesses thought it was a punch until they saw the blood and realised the knife had struck him. The complainer made his way into the house and the accused ran away.”

The victim was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he received a stitch for a 2cm wound to his right shoulder blade.

“Fortunately, the wound was not deep although it could have, potentially, caused more damage than it actually did,” Mr Barclay added.

Nicholson, whose address was given as Ambrose Rise, Livingston, pled guilty to assault to injury.

The teenager also admitted breaching his probation.

His solicitor, Ian Smith, said his client’s position was that he had not brought the knife with him.

“He had not gone armed with a knife and had not gone with a knife in his possession,” Mr Smith said.

“Having said that he does regret his reaction and very stupidly retaliated in this way.

“He appears resigned to the fact he is going to get a custodial sentence. He still falls to be punished and is realistic about that.

“He did not intend to inflict serious harm and he is grateful he didn’t.”

Ordering Nicholson to be detained in a young offender’s institute for 21 months Sheriff Douglas Kinloch said: “When you stab someone using a knife it is so serious that it must be punished by custody.

“You were prepared to take the risk of causing a serious injury to the victim. Fortunately for him this did not happen but nevertheless there was potential for serious injury and it is a serious matter.

“You were also on probation at the time which makes it worse.”