Grandfather suffers broken jaw and multiple fractures after being attacked by teenager in Peeblesshire play park
A 72-year-old man was holidaying in the Scottish Borders with his two grandchildren when he was brutally assaulted in an unprovoked playground attack, a court's been told.
The pensioner had taken the girls - aged seven and eight - to a play park in Innerleithen when they were approached by a gang of hooded youths.
One of them has then punched him to the left side of the face, causing him to fall to the ground.
The incident unfolded around 7pm on Saturday, June 8th, last year, at a playground at the end of Hall Street.
Selkirk Sheriff Court today (Monday) heard the grandfather suffered a broken jaw and multiple fractures in the attack, which knocked his teeth out of alignment.
He was taken to Borders General Hospital and has undergone surgery to have a metal plate inserted into his mouth.
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A teenager - aged 16 at the time - was arrested following a police appeal for information and this week pled guilty to the assault.
Now 17, he still can't be named because of his age.
But Sheriff Peter Paterson said it was "far too serious" to be dealt with by the Children's Panel.
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The court heard a Victim Impact Statement revealed the emotional and financial impact the attack has had on the pensioner.
The teenager's solicitor, Mat Patrick, blamed a troubled upbringing for his client's "impulsive behaviour".
Sheriff Paterson slapped him with a 12-month supervision order, as a direct alternative to custody, and ordered him to pay his victim £750 compensation.
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