Teen trashed HMYOI Polmont cell because he was 'bored'

Kenneth Brown (19), of 352 Warriston Street, Glasgow, caused £1237.99 worth of damage when he trashed his cell in HMYOI Polmont last September.

Brown appeared from custody at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday after he admitted wilfully or recklessly destroying property belonging to another and throwing items about and out of a window at the facility.

Procurator fiscal depute Catherine Fraser said: “Officers heard smashing coming from a cell.

“On checking, they could see the accused was throwing items out the window and he continued to smash the contents of the cell.

“He indicated the reason he was doing that was because he was bored.”

Banknock dad threatened neighbours and police after drinking 26 bottles of Buckfast

The court was also told Brown, who is on remand for a separate petition matter, lost 14 days’ recreation for his actions.

His defence solicitor said Brown’s offending began in January 2019 and that money was taken out of his wages at HMYOI Polmont to cover the cost of the damage he caused to his cell.

The lawyer added: “When he was 12 his dad passed away.

“He’s a young man who struggles to deal with grief. He was struggling with the anniversary of his dad’s death.

“He’s been in and out of the care system. The death of his father is a significant burden of his life. He has spiralled out of control.”

Sheriff Derek Hamilton imprisoned him for six months, effective from November 5, 2020.

Thank you for reading this article on our free-to-read website. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

Please consider purchasing a subscription to our print newspaper to help fund our trusted, fact-checked journalism.

https://www.localsubsplus.co.uk/nord/dm/FKH/V