SHERIFF COURT: Attacker spared jail over Wick knife attack on teenager

A teenager who was stabbed several times on the face and neck in an attack by several people in 2020 has since died.

However, 17-year-old James Watt's death was not as a result of the knife attack, but was drug related and not connected, Inverness Sheriff Court was told.

In the dock was one of the assailants, 33-year-old Graham Bain, of Kinnaird Street, Wick, who had previously admitted striking Mr Watt repeatedly with a knife or similar instrument to his severe injury while acting with others.

The attack happened on August 20, 2020 at Macrae Street, Wick.

Bain was ordered to carry out 270 hours of unpaid community work and had an eight-month 7pm to 7am restriction of liberty order imposed by Sheriff Sara Matheson.

The sheriff was told that Mr Watt was contacted to meet an acquaintance in Argyle Square but didn't keep the appointment.

The court heard that as he walked along a grassy area, he felt a blow to the back of his head and he thought he lost consciousness.

Sheriff Matheson was told that he got up and was trying to fight with people, but was bleeding so could not see much due to cuts to his face from something sharp.

His next recollection was being in hospital in Aberdeen and he did not know who attacked him.

Bain was identified as one of the attackers as CCTV placed him in the area and Mr Watt's blood was later found on Bain's shoes.

He later told police: "I did not plan to murder James Watt. It was supposed to be a square go. I am sorry for my involvement in it."

Mr Watt was covered in blood and initially taken to Caithness General Hospital, where he required a blood transfusion.

He was placed in an induced coma with the bleeding under control and transferred by air ambulance to the intensive care unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment and care.

He underwent surgery for injuries to a neck artery, wounds to his hands and wrist, and multiple stab wounds to scalp, face and neck, some down to the muscle.

Mr Watt was discharged from hospital on August 23, 2020.

Defence solicitor Natalie Paterson successfully persuaded Sheriff Matheson not to jail her client.

She said that he had turned his life around and given up drugs.