Four years for brutal brain damage attack

Published 23 Dec 2009 13:00

A THUG who left a teenager brain damaged in a revenge attack has been jailed for four years and eight months.

Stuart Davis targeted 19-year-old Christopher Burns as he walked home from a friend's house in June this year.

Davis, 19, who was in a car, told the driver to stop and then got out and launched a brutal attack, which included stamping on Mr Burns' head.

As his victim lay badly injured the accused walked away saying: "He deserved it."

Caging Davis, temporary judge Sean Murphy QC told him: "You took part in what was a deliberate and sustained attack in retaliation for an earlier assault.

"This caused significant brain injury.

"There was no need for this incident to have happened at all.

"You were in a car and made the driver stop when you saw Mr Burns walking past you."

The High Court in Glasgow has been told it is not known if Mr Burns will ever make a full recovery.

Davis, 19, admitted assaulting Mr Burns to the danger of his life in Kirkton Avenue, Knightswood, on June 19 this year.

He spotted Mr Burns in Temple's Fulton Street and claimed: "There's that boy that gave me a doing at the job centre in Anniesland."

The car stopped and Davis shouted at Mr Burns before chasing after him.

Davis was seen repeatedly stamping on Mr Burns' head.

One witness described the attack as "shocking".

Davis then went back to the car and sneered: "Just leave him, he's done."

Mr Burns was rushed to hospital, where he was found to have suffered brain damage.

He was transferred to intensive care and was only released from hospital on September 14.

Bernard Ablett, prosecuting, said: "Although the complainer has made a recovery, it is too soon to say how far he will progress towards full recovery.

"The recovery period can last up to two years and any recovery to be made will have been made in that period.

"The extent to which further recovery, if any, is made remains uncertain at present."

Mr Ablett added that Mr Burns is to undergo further therapy for his speech and stamina.

The court heard his mother has noticed a change in his personality and tries to ensure that he is not left at home alone.

Advocate Geoffrey Forbes, defending, said: "Mr Davis is deeply sorry for his actions towards Mr Burns.

"There is a background relating to a previous assault on Mr Davis by the complainer.

"But he insists this was not a premeditated revenge attack. He saw Mr Burns and went to confront him.

"He is deeply ashamed of the assault that included stamping on Mr Burns' head.

"He has described the incident as 'drunken madness'.

"He is now talking about abstaining from drink because it makes him violent."

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This article appeared in Clydebank Post 23 Dec 09

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