Soldier who knocked teenager unconscious at TRNSMT avoids jail

A soldier who left a teenager in a coma after a brutal assault at the TRNSMT music festival in Glasgow has avoided a prison sentence.

Lewis Gilchrist punched the 16-year-old boy from Ayrshire to the ground at Glasgow Green on July 13 2024, after becoming involved in a fight between the victim and an unknown man.

The 19-year-old, from Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute, fled the scene after he was hauled by a police inspector who had witnessed the incident.

A doctor claimed that the victim, from Patna, Ayrshire, could have died but for the timely intervention of medics at the scene.

Gilchrist was initially charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty to assaulting the boy to severe injury and danger of life at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

He is currently suspended and living in barracks in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

Soldier told "army could be the making of you"

His lawyer told the court that his career with the army could continue if he was not sent to prison.

Gilchrist was shown mercy by Sheriff Joan Kerr who put him on a community payback order as a "direct alternative" to custody – with the judge telling him continued employment in the army “could be the making of you.”

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

He will also pay his victim £2,000 in compensation at a rate of £500 per month.

The court heard that the boy had been at the festival with his girlfriend - also 16 - when an argument broke out between them.

An unknown man wearing green shorts and a bucket hat then became involved and lifted the teenager from the ground.

The pair then got into a fight before Gilchrist - who wore an orange t-shirt - appeared and punched the boy to the side of the head.

Prosecutor Heather Naismith said: "There was a flurry of punches and Gilchrist then punched the boy forcibly to the head.

Police inspector stepped in to stop attack

"This knocked him over and he collapsed to the ground."

The incident was overseen by a police inspector who was on duty at TRNSMT that day.

He spotted that the boy had fell to the ground without putting his hands out to stop himself.

Gilchrist appeared to then go towards the teenager again but was kicked away by one of the boy's friends.

The inspector pulled Gilchrist away before he then fled the scene with the other man in green shorts.

The boy was found unconscious with blood coming from his mouth and was "completely unresponsive."

Doctor said victim could have died without timely intervention

He was taken into a medical tent for treatment where he was stated to be in "a state of unconsciousness or a coma."

Medics had to help the boy gain oxygen - which had dropped to 60% - as he had blood in his airway.

A breathing tube was inserted and he was transferred to hospital for further treatment.

Miss Naismith added: "In the doctor's opinion, had the boy not had immediate treatment, due to his lack of breathing, then it is likely he would have died of is injuries."

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