Detention for teenage golf club attacker

The court heard that Paterson did not know his victim

A teenager from Fife has been sentenced to more than three years in a young offenders' institute for attacking a 64-year-old man with a golf club.

Peter Paterson, now 17, admitted striking Robert Michie with the club so hard it snapped and then repeatedly stabbing him with the broken shaft.

Mr Michie had to have his spleen removed and was permanently disfigured following the attack.

An Edinburgh court heard Paterson had consumed a "large amount" of alcohol.

The attack took place on 3 October when Paterson, who was 16 at the time, had been to a house party in Cedar Avenue, Fife.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the teenager had been involved in "a playful fight".

It is quite intolerable that an innocent man in his 60s in a public street should be subjected to this kind of attack by a drunken youth Judge Lord Uist

Paterson left and returned with a baseball bat but it was taken from him. He then went to get the golf club and on his return to the party bumped into Mr Michie on the street, who was a stranger to him.

He began shouting abuse at Mr Michie then struck him with a golf club.

The force of the blow broke the club so Paterson was left with the splintered shaft in his hand. In the ensuing struggle he stabbed Mr Michie twice in the back and once in the thigh.

After the attack Mr Michie was taken to Queen Margaret Hospital where he was treated for life-threatening injuries. One of the stab wounds was 10cm deep and he had to have his spleen removed.

'Lifelong penicillin'

Advocate Depute Michael Stuart said: "As a consequence of the removal of his spleen the victim required to be immunised against infection and will need lifelong penicillin due to increasing susceptibility to infection."

Paterson, of Kirkcaldy, Fife, earlier admitted assaulting his victim to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life. He was sentenced to 40 months in a young offenders' institute.

Defence solicitor advocate Iain Paterson said the incident could be described as out-of-character for Paterson and added: "He was drinking alcohol to great excess."

Judge Lord Uist said he would have ordered Paterson's detention for five years in a young offenders' institution had it not been for his guilty plea.

He also ordered that the teenager should be kept on supervision for a further 12 months.

Addressing Paterson Lord Uist said: "It is quite intolerable that an innocent man in his 60s in a public street should be subjected to this kind of attack by a drunken youth."