Teenager assaulted man with metal pole at Port McDonald's

Rhyley Kane was set upon by an unknown male at the transport hub with the incident having been filmed and shared online, according to his lawyer.

The 19-year-old later tracked down his 'attacker' at McDonald's in the Gallagher Retail Park and hit him with the eight-inch long metal pole.

Kane turned up at the fast food restaurant on the afternoon of August 3, 2022 wearing a black balaclava.

He then removed the pole from his jacket pocket and struck the man to his right shoulder, the court heard.

Defence solicitor Edward Sweeney told the court: "Prior to the incident he [Kane] was attacked at a local train station in Port Glasgow by the victim.

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"It was recorded by one of the bystanders and immediately put on social media for all to see.

"He discovered that his assailant was within the locus and he made his way there with the metal pole."

Mr Sweeney agreed with Sheriff James Varney's assertion that the attack 'was pre-planned and he knew what he was doing'.

The lawyer added: "The red mist descended, he was angry.

"He went there to confront the complainer. He struck him on the shoulder area on one occasion only."

The victim did not make an allegation of assault and so was not named by the Crown in court papers.

Kane has not been charged with anything else since being released on bail on this matter in September 2022, the court was told.

The Endeavour sculpture on Fore Street (Image: Street View)

The teen admitted the assault charge on the day he was due to stand trial.

He was cleared of another alleged offence which claimed that he smashed several LED bulbs on the Endeavour sculpture on Fore Street on the same day using a metal pole.

Prosecutors also accepted a not guilty plea to a charge of being in possession of an offensive weapon in a public place without reasonable excuse.

Sheriff Varney told Kane: "You are very fortunate some of the charges on this summary complaint have been taken away.

"That being said, we cannot have pre-planned attacks where somebody is going about taking steps because they feel aggrieved.

"It is not up to you to take matters into your own hands.

"This offence is too serious, with the use of a weapon, to be marked by way of a fine."

Kane, of Huntly Terrace, was sentenced to a community payback order and must complete 90 hours of unpaid work within six months.