A teenage boy who was granted bail five times before being caught with a zombie knife has walked free after a sheriff said he did not have to worry about going into custody.
The 17-year-old – who admitted committing a series of offences including torching a car – had his sentence deferred for a short period with a view to placing the teenager on a restriction of liberty order (RLO).
Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith also told the accused – who cannot be identified because he is under 18 – that he would be sending him on an outward bound-style course.
The sheriff told the persistent offender: ‘There is nothing for you to fear now about you receiving custody in these cases.’
The youth, who turns 18 later this year, admitted being caught with a zombie knife at a house in Fintry Road, Dundee, on 29 April this year.
A persistent young offender is to attend a Highland adventure course for his crimes
He admitted that, by having the weapon, he was breaching five bail orders – imposed on 29 November and 15 December last year, and 12 January, 14 and 18 March this year.
He also admitted wilfully setting fire to a car’s windscreen and bonnet and damaging the vehicle in the city’s Pitkerro Road on 11 December 2023.
The teenager also admitted further charges of breaking court curfew conditions on 30 March and 17 July. Both had been imposed as a condition of bail less than a month beforehand.
Sheriff Niven-Smith continued bail for the accused and told him he would be sent on the Venture Trust’s ‘Living Wild’ programme in relation to the car blaze.
Sentence on him was deferred for good behaviour until December in relation to the two curfew breaches. He had sentence deferred for three weeks to have an RLO assessment carried out at a Dundee address.
The sheriff noted that the youth had been given 13 social work appointments and had attended 12 of them, with a court appearance accounting for the one he missed.
‘There are concerns for his safety regarding reprisals from others should he be at unpaid work, although there has been a reference to a cooling of hostilities.
‘It’s not clear if that is people he might come into contact with if I impose unpaid work.’
A teen who was granted bail five times before being caught with a zombie knife has walked free from court
Solicitor David Duncan, defending, said: ‘He should appreciate he does not fare well in a negative peer group.’
Sheriff Niven-Smith said: ‘To his credit he has managed to refrain from that peer group. Given the positive steps you have made thus far, I will put you on supervision for a year. That is an alternative to custody.’
According to the Venture Trust website: ‘Our Living Wild programme supports individuals currently involved in the Scottish justice system who want to make positive and sustained changes that can lead to a move away from offending.
‘After an assessment period we offer regular community-based outreach support wrapped around a Wilderness Journey usually in the Highlands.
‘Nature offers inherent challenges for people to reflect on beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours.’