Teen jailed for slashing two people in the face

Jun 30 2011 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A TEENAGER who slashed two former school pals in the face with a Stanley knife after he was refused entry to a house party has been jailed.

Alexander Moore had been out drinking with friends on July 31 last year when he tried to get into the party at a house in Broom Walk, Livingston, just after 2.30am.

The 18-year-old was denied entry and there was an altercation between him and one of the party goers.

Both Moore and the reveller he had clashed with left the scene separately. However, 30 minutes later Moore returned and launched his attack.

“On opening the door the two complainers saw a friend standing in the doorway,” fiscal depute Sarah O’Gallagher told Livingston Sheriff Court.

“They then saw the accused push past him and he struck out with what appeared to be a Stanley knife, striking both complainers in the face.

“He then started shouting for the witness who he had the previous altercation with before he was taken away.”

Moore’s two victims were taken to St John’s Hospital in Livingston where they were both treated.

One has been left with two permanent scars on the face measuring 2cm and 4.5cm. The other victim has been left with a 2cm scar on the left side of his face.

Last week Moore, whose address was given as Katherine Street, Livingston, pled guilty to assaulting the pair to their injury and permanent disfigurement.

His solicitor, Kevin Dugan, told the court his client had no previous convictions and suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Mr Dugan said the condition caused Moore to suffer outbursts of temper and react in an inappropriate fashion at times to stressful situations.

“I think there must be some connection between his disorder and the offence that took place,” the solicitor added.

“He was diagnosed through the efforts of his parents. They had noticed problems since he was only two years old but it took until he was aged 14 to have it diagnosed.

“I think it is clear he has had a difficult time reacting to situations and things that have been said to him that normal people would normally shrug off.

“That night he had far too much to drink. He was going home and passed the house and knew some of the people there.

“I suspect he saw the chance to continue drinking at a party. I have it from three of the witnesses that there was an assault on Mr Moore by one of the witnesses.

“Most people would have gone home and called the police but he had been subject to abuse from them during and after his school days. He is very emotional at times and was upset at hurtful remarks directed at him.

“He had not been taking his medication for two weeks before this incident because it had been causing him problems.

“He was given a knife by somebody and was told to go back down and sort it out.

“He was immediately remorseful for what had taken place. Albeit alcohol played a part I suspect this incident would not have taken place if it had not been for his condition.”

However, Sheriff Douglas Kinloch said he had no option but to jail Moore.

Sentencing Moore to 16 months detention Sheriff Kinloch said: “Your behaviour had been causing some concern for some time and various people had been working with you on this.

“Unfortunately, that didn’t prevent you from carrying out a nasty attack that has left two young men scarred for life.

“The difficulties you have are factors which I must take into account but you have not been diagnosed with a mental illness, you are of normal intelligence and a consultant psychiatrist is of the mind this offence is not related to ADHD.

“It would not therefore be right to proceed on any other basis that you understood what you did and must take responsibility for it, even if you don’t appreciate the full wickedness of what you did.

“There is concern about knife crime and I must think about the victims of this crime.

“Where not one but two people are left scarred for life there is only one sentence that I feel will bring home the seriousness of the offence and deter others from carrying knives and that is a custodial sentence.

“It will be considerably shorter than that I would have imposed on an adult in the hope that when you are released you will be young enough to go on and live a useful life.”