A police officer has had to give up frontline work after he was brutally attacked by a gang of feral youths.
The drunken mob – then aged between 14 and 20 – turned on PC Stuart Rochead after he accidentally bumped into one of them in his car.
The off-duty officer was punched, kicked, hit with glass bottles and bludgeoned with rocks and stones before being left for dead in the shocking attack.
Two of the gang were subject to a combined 20 bails order at time and also on curfews to keep them at home at night.
A judge heard the officer has been left so badly affected he has to give up frontline policing after 19 years in the force.
Four of the thugs have now admitted to their roles in the shocking attack which occurred at Blantyre train station in Lanarkshire last March 30.
Lauren Neary, now 18, and Robert Faulds, 20, pled guilty to an attempted murder charge at the High Court in Glasgow.
Alec Fallon, 19, and a now 16 year-old boy – who cannot be identified due to his age – admitted assaulting Mr Rochead, 44, to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment as well as to the danger of his life.
All four were remanded by Lord Arthurson pending sentencing next month.
The four had been part of a rowdy mob causing bother and annoying passengers on a train shortly before the attack.
They got off at Blantyre around 9pm the same time Mr Rochead drove into the station to drop off his daughter.
Prosecutor Kath Harper KC said the gang ‘made no effort’ to get out of the way of his car and he ‘clipped’ one of them with his wing-mirror at low speed.
Shortly after dropping off his daughter, the group was said to have become aggressive and surrounded his car.
He got out and attempted to speak with them but was punched in the face before the gang started kicking and punch the car.
Mr Rochead briefly stopped a 100 yards away to fix his wing mirror as three of the gang ran at him armed with bottles and a plank of wood.
He tried to escape to the home of a friend who lived near the station but was chased by the gang and punched.
Fallon then shoved the victim to the ground before repeatedly kicking him.
Faulds walked up and smacked Mr Rochead on the head with a glass bottle.
Some of the gang then threw rocks and boulders at Mr Rochead.
The advocate depute explained: ‘Neary stood over his head and, with some difficulty, lifted a large rock, threw it with force at his head as he lay motionless.
‘Mr Rochead, at the last second, sluggishly moved his body as the rock was dropped.
‘It struck him on the side of the head and he slumped to the ground.’
The gang finally left – not caring if their victim was alive or dead.
The court was told that Neary said: ‘I think I have just killed him. I am not going to lie.’
Mr Rochead managed to get to feet to alert a resident to get him help.
He was rushed to hospital where he underwent a three-hour operation to rebuild his nose. A metal plate was also inserted into his face and he required more than 30 stitches for a number of wounds.
His injuries have left him scarred for life and he has no feeling on part of the left side of his face, below his right eye and his top lip.
The keen sportsman can no longer take part in the martial art Hapkido in which he was due to earn his red belt in.
Miss Harper said: ‘He now cannot operate as a respond police officer or public order officer.
‘He has been advised by his superiors and doctors that he should never return to a front-line job as he cannot risk injury because of the metal plate in his face.
‘He continues to suffer from head rushes, dizziness and extreme fatigue.’
The court heard Fallon, of no fixed abode, already had 18 previous convictions. for dishonesty, assault and breach of the peace.
He was subject to nine different bail orders at the time – the last imposed at Paisley Sheriff Court just 11 days before the attack.
He had also been told to stay indoors between 7pm and 7am each night as part of the restrictions.
Faulds, latterly of Paisley, Renfrewshire, breached 10 bail orders and was also on a curfew.
Neary, of Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, had four previous convictions with the 16 year-old bailed by a sheriff three days before the assault.
Lord Arthurson deferred sentencing for reports.