Nairn teenage attackers accused of tribal behaviour

TWO Nairn teenagers were accused of tribal behaviour in an attack on a local youth.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard Robbie Jack and Bryan Hutcheon followed their victim from a local shop and assaulted him and continude the attack while he was on the ground.

The injured young man, Nathan Grant, had been with his girlfriend at the time.

Sheriff Andrew Berry said: "This sort of tribal behaviour is totally unacceptable."

He added the incident must have been a nightmare Mr Grant and it was a very serious matter.

Jack (17) of Sutors View and Hutcheon (17) of Elizabeth Street, both Nairn, admitted on July 30 last year while acting together assaulting Mr Grant by repeatedly punching him on the head and causing him to fall to the ground and thereafter punching him on the head.

Depute Fiscal David Bernard described how Mr Grant had been outside a convenience store at the corner of Lochloy Road and the A96 with his girlfriend when they saw a group of people including Jack and Hutcheon standing in the vicinity.

He said Mr Grant was nervous and wanted to leave. "He left with his girlfriend to go to her house. On reaching the Nairn Dunbar Golf Club they noted they were being followed and the group behind them were walking quickly and trying to catch up."

Mr Bernard said the group eventually caught up and Hutcheon asked to speak to Mr Grant who told his girlfriend to stay where she was and call the police if necessary.

The fiscal said Hutcheon accused Mr Grant of making a racist slur about his family, but this was denied.

Jack came forward and offered his hand in a "gesture of goodwill" but he then swung a punch with his other hand hitting Mr Grant on the face and on the left eye.

At this point the sheriff intervened and said it was a serious matter and the case would require background reports. It was continued until March 22.