Jailed for violent attack on cyclist

From today's Courier and Advertiser...

"Jailed for violent attack on cyclist
"AN UNPROVOKED and violent attack against a young man cycling home from
his work has earned a Fife man six months in prison.
"At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court yesterday Mark Mc.Donanld (22), Pitcairn
Road, Glenrothes, admitted that on August 22 last year in North Street,
Glenrothes, while acting with a female juvenile, he assaulted Derek
Little, pulled him from his bike, repeatedly struck him on the head and
body and held him as a knife was brandished in his face.
"McDonald also admitted, again while acting with the female juvenile,
ruining Mr Little’s bike by jumping on the wheels and throwing it
against the kerb.
"Fiscal Anne Grey said Mr Little and a workmate were on their way home
late that evening when McDonald and his co-accused asked them for
cigarettes. When they were unable to produce any, the assault began.
"The female first attacked Mr Little’s companion, who wriggled free,
then turned her attention to Mr Little with McDonald joining the
assault. Mr Little was left with bruising and scratches and his £1600
mountain bike destroyed. His companion escaped unscathed.
"McDonald’s solicitor admitted his client had no idea who the two men
were but pointed out his accomplice had started the assault — McDonald
simply joined in.
"Sheriff Macleod pointed out that other sentences had failed to deter
McDonald from re-offending in the past and that he would thus be sent to
prison for six months."

No mention about restitution for the bike, nor any criminal charges
against the girl (another court?)

--
Wallace Shackleton,

Kinross,
Scotland.

Cycling in Kinross-shire www.cyclekinross.org.uk

Perth & Kinross Cycle Campaign www.bycycle.org.uk

"Wallace Shackleton" wrote in message
...


No mention about restitution for the bike, nor any criminal charges
against the girl (another court?)

A juvenile so cannot be named or any proceedings reported??

Surely the fact that it was against a cyclist is just incidental in this
report. It's just another unprovoked assault that's sadly all to common.

Not wishing particularly to get anyones back up here but it sometimes seems
that the group has a morbid fascination with any and all accidents/incidents
involving cyclists.

I read enough of this kind of thing in my morning paper and the repetition
of a story that has no particular relevance to cycling isn't really what I
follow this group for.

What do others think?

Tim

"Wallace Shackleton" wrote in message
...

No mention about restitution for the bike, nor any criminal charges
against the girl (another court?)

As Tony said, cases in youth court are not normally reported in the Press
(at least in England) - but as for compensation it may be possible the
******* doesn't have any money and him and the girl are probably worthless,
brainless drug addicts (which would account for the irrational and violent
behaviour). So its not worth trying to fine him for the money, and it would
be hard to make him do £1600 worth of work in prison on a 6 month stretch.

This is particularly nasty case, although in the south they would have just
nicked the bike rather than trash it and tried to sell it for drugs.... they
seem really vindictive.

I tend to avoid people whom I don't know when cycling around. Then again I
can be fast when I need to be and usually leave any idiots behind...

BTW is Scotland *really* this bad? I seem to be reading a lot of reports
(also on the news) about serious violence in Scotland (against cyclists,
ethnic groups etc) and it is actually putting me off considering travel
North of the Border - yet I know there are loads of decent people up there!

Alex

"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...
Surely the fact that it was against a cyclist is just incidental in this
report. It's just another unprovoked assault that's sadly all to common.

Not wishing particularly to get anyones back up here but it sometimes
seems
that the group has a morbid fascination with any and all
accidents/incidents
involving cyclists.

I *don't* think its a morbid fascination at all ; more the understandable
reactions of a group which although large is still to an extent marginalised
and even *hated* (to the point of violence) by other areas of society

On other boards discussing sports there are lurid accounts of accidents and
incidents. If you read a message board or group talking about rave parties
you will see a lot of threads about police action, or violent incidents that
have occured at events.

If you read a message board for ethnic groups, you often see reports about
racist attacks.

If you read a group about pets; you see threads where people discuss how
their pet has got ill or even passed away.

This time yesterday two years ago every net group was talking about 9/11 -
*whatever* the group was actually set up for.

IMO its a way of dealing with bad situations; by discussing them. Out of
this discussion comes a release of negative feelings, and also sometimes
ways of avoiding the negative event for others or dealing with it when it
could be unavoidable. We cannot wear rose tinted specs all the time (apart
from those goggles the racing types sometimes wear)

Alex

"Wallace Shackleton" wrote

From today's Courier and Advertiser...

"Jailed for violent attack on cyclist
"AN UNPROVOKED and violent attack against a young man cycling home from

Should have just whacked him with a ton of metal, glass and plastic. 100
pound fine and an invitation to the judge's gaff for a barbeque and drinks
seems to be the norm for this.

--
Rob


Please keep conversations in the newsgroup so that all may contribute and
benefit.

On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 08:46:05 +0100 someone who may be Wallace
Shackleton wrote this:-

From today's Courier and Advertiser...

"Jailed for violent attack on cyclist

I wonder if the police will have as much success in the search for
someone else who mounted another violent attack on a cyclist.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/09/277377.html


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

"David Hansen" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 14:35:18 +0100 someone who may be "Mr R@t \(2.3
zulu-alpha\) [comms room 2]" wrote this:-

BTW is Scotland *really* this bad?

Yes and no. It was in Glenrothes, which explains part of it.

I seem to be reading a lot of reports
(also on the news) about serious violence in Scotland (against cyclists,
ethnic groups etc)

Scotland is not particularly violent. However, like most places
there are people who are too stupid to be able to talk and so resort
to fighting.

I guess its just the BBC who just like emphasising the negative (same as
down south); and that in some deprived areas there is little else for people
to do apart from act in a primitive manner; and my own wariness of
new/strange places.

As for the thugs, I would have said the Fiscal should have them "hangit,
gralloched and fed tae wee homeless catties"; but that is *too* barbaric.
You should not feed cats with such bad quality meat.

Alex

David Hansen wrote:


I seem to be reading a lot of reports
(also on the news) about serious violence in Scotland (against cyclists,
ethnic groups etc)

Scotland is not particularly violent.

It's the only place I have ever seen anyone ague and then fight with a
lamppost! There again it was probably the most exciting thing to do in
Crieff on a Sunday night.

On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 17:27:53 +0100 someone who may be "Tony W"
wrote this:-

I would guess that the Scots are similar -- give or take a bit of
interpretation or a year or so here or there.

But, that was the reason for my ?? at the end.

If she was under 16 then there will have been no court (as
understood down south) for such an offence. She will have been dealt
with by the Children's Panel. http://www.childrens-hearings.co.uk/
outlines the system, which is considered to be generally better than
what is in use in the rest of the UK.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.