Teenager who stabbed passer-by in Glasgow city centre walks free from court

The incident happened at Glasgow Central in July 2021

The 15-year-old pleaded guilt at Glasgow Sheriff Court today.
Author: Stephanie AllisonPublished 4th May 2023

A teenager who stabbed a passer-by during a city centre brawl walked free from court today.

The 15-year-old lashed out at Fraser Watt near Glasgow Central train station on July 19 2021.

The attacker was earlier involved in a confrontation with two unknown men.

Co-accused Caitlyn MacKay, 24, repeatedly punched one of the men during the melee.

Mr Watt's friend Andrew Wilson had tried to play peacekeeper to separate the feud.

He was then charged at along with Mr Watt who was subsequently stabbed on the shoulder requiring hospital treatment.

The teenage first offender pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting Mr Watt, possession of a knife and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

MacKay, of the city’s Lambhill, meantime admitted assaulting one of the unknown men and will be sentenced next month.

The teenager was ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work and put under supervision for two years.

The court heard that the teen and MacKay were intoxicated near the train station.

They were in the company of an unknown man and a woman.

A second unknown man appeared and spoke with MacKay before the teenager was involved in an altercation with him.

The teenager was in possession of a knife at the time.

The pair were involved in a second altercation - the man knocked the teen to the ground with his holdall.

MacKay and the first unknown man pursued the other man into the train station.

Prosecutor Katie Bell said: "They both struck out at him with their fists.

"The two unknown men fell to the ground and whilst of the ground the first man punched him.

"MacKay then punched the second unknown man to the back."

MacKay and the first unknown man exited the station where he then punched the boy.

The first unknown was told by bystander Mr Wilson to leave the teenager alone before being pushed.

A further witness, Mr Watt, assisted in pushing the teenager away.

The teen then charged at Mr Wilson and Mr Watt.

The court heard over a week later that police monitoring the city's Possilpark area observed two young men - one of which had a knife.

Officers attended at a nearby takeaway and noticed the teenager remove a knife from his waistband and leaned into the shop.

The teenager was arrested and was noted to be under the influence and swaying on his feet.

The boy continued his aggressive behaviour while in custody and vomited several times.

He then made racist and homophobic remarks before being held in custody until he sobered up.