A FAIFLEY teenager who attacked a man until he was knocked unconscious has been locked up for eight months.

The 17-year-old, who can’t be identified for legal reasons, argued through his solicitor that he deserved to remain in the community with more support after a difficult childhood.

He previously pleaded guilty to assaulting a man, punching him to the head causing him to fall to the ground and then kicking and stamping on his head. He was on bail from May 2017 at Glasgow Sheriff Court at the time.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard how around 12.50am on July 1, police were passing near a grass area in Comelybank Road, Dumbarton, when they saw a stand-up fight between the two males.

The victim regained consciousness after “a few minutes” and the attacker saw police stopping their vehicle and ran off. He was caught after a short chase on foot and arrested.

Paramedics checked the victim and he was found fit to be released. He refused to go to hospital or to give his details to police.

Defence solicitor Judith Reid admitted “little if anything” could be said in mitigation for the incident.

She told the court: “The social work report says he can effectively not remember what happened.

“He is only 17 years old and has certainly had a very troubled childhood lacking in stability.”

Ms Reid said the teenager had completed an apprenticeship “against the odds”.

But Sheriff William Gallacher said he was struggling with the limited options available to him.

Ms Reid added: “When sober, he is trying his best in life. He works about 40-50 hours a week. Unfortunately this took place on a very rare night off.”

She added that a more supportive package of measures from social workers could be offered and the youth himself had asked for that about six or seven months ago.

Sheriff William Gallacher noted the teenager still had 133 hours outstanding of a separate community payback order.

He branded the July 1 incident a “wanton and sustained attack” and said it was not for the court to structure exactly what the social work department do.

The sheriff locked the teenager in the cells while there were further discussions with social workers what action they could take.

But on his return to court later in the day, he was detained for eight months.