Off-duty police officer left for dead by gang who bludgeoned him with rocks

A gang of young people attacked an off-duty police officer after he accidentally bumped into one of them in his car.

The drunken group – aged between 14 and 20 at the time – turned on the victim, having earlier caused trouble on a train.

The officer was punched, kicked, hit with glass bottles and bludgeoned with rocks and stones before being left for dead.

Two of the group were subject to a combined total of 20 bail orders at the time and also on curfews to keep them at home at night.

A judge heard how the policeman has been left so badly affected he has had to give up frontline work after 19 years in the force.

On Tuesday, four of the gang admitted to their roles in the attack at Blantyre Train Station in Lanarkshire on March 30, 2024.

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 16-year-old boy – who cannot be identified due to his age – admitted assaulting the victim 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 loud mob causing bother and annoying passengers on a train shortly before the attack.

They got off at Blantyre at around 9pm – the same time the man drove into the station.

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.

He dropped off his daughter then went to check on one of the group he had bumped into.

“The group became aggressive and surrounded the car,” Ms Harper told the court.

“[The victim] got out and attempted to speak with them.

“However, he was punched in the face. He managed to get back into his vehicle as the group began to kick and punch the car from all sides.”

The off-duty officer was left “fearing for his own safety”.

He briefly stopped 100-yards away to fix his wing mirror as three of the gang ran at him armed with bottles and a plank of wood.

The victim attempted to escape to the home of a friend who lived near the station.

At one stage, he tried to calm the gang, but he was chased into the driveway of his friend’s home.

He was punched again. Fallon then shoved the victim to the ground before repeatedly kicking him.

Faulds walked up and smacked the victim on the head with a glass bottle as he tried to defend himself and also get to the front door of the property.

But, the attackers turned on him again, landing further blows.

“As the group assaulted him in the driveway, a male voice can be heard shouting: ‘F*****g bottle him, bottle him’,” Ms Harper said.

The 16-year-old attacker – then 14 – went on to smash such a weapon over the officer’s head, which saw the victim “slow down, appear dazed and stagger around”.

“He was again surrounded and the assault continued – pushing, punching and kicking him as well as hitting him with rocks, stones and bottles,” Ms Harper said.

The gang momentarily stopped the violent attack – before one of them yelled: “I’m going to f*****g kill you”.

The then 14-year-old sprinted back and turned on the injured man.

“The teenager, Neary and Faulds and an unknown female lifted rocks and boulders throwing them at [the victim],” Ms Harper said.

The court heard the victim “could not escape”.

He was then felled as Faulds hurled a rock at him, striking the victim’s head.

The hearing was told he “appeared completely defenceless and dazed”.

“Neary stood over his head and, with some difficulty, lifted a large rock, threw it with force at his head as he lay motionless,” Ms Harper said.

“[The victim], 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 made off.

Neary was heard boasting: “I think I have just killed him. I am not going to lie.”

The victim managed to get to his feet to alert a resident to get him help.

He was rushed to hospital, suffering from a string of injuries and needed a three-hour operation to rebuild his nose after part of it was “caved in”. A metal plate was also inserted into his face.

He required more than 30 stitches for several wounds.

The court heard how badly affected he remains after his ordeal.

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.

“He now cannot operate as a respond police officer or public order officer,” Ms Harper said.

“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 attackers were all arrested in early April 2024.

When quizzed by police, Neary said: “My pal got smacked with a motor.”

The now 16-year-old assailant meantime said: “I only hit him because he knocked out my pal.”

The court heard Fallon, of no fixed abode, already had 18 previous convictions – including 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, breached ten 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.