A teenager brutally attacked and robbed a 19-year-old man after spotting a Snapchat post that boasted of a generous early Christmas present.
Nico Tole’s victim was targeted just hours after he posted an image on social media of the £100 gift he’d just received.
Tole was just 16 when he, along with another teen, pounced on the man when he stepped off a bus on Great Northern Road.
The vicious pair dragged him into a lane, beat him up and demanded that he hand over his bag and cash.
The attack only came to a halt when their victim agreed to give them his possessions and workers from the nearby J&S Accessories shop ran to his aid, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
Boasted of cash gift
Fiscal depute Brian Young explained that earlier that day, on December 12 2019, their victim posted a photo of £100 in cash he’d received as a Christmas present onto his Snapchat account.
Shortly after he received an invite to a party at Tole’s cousin’s house but when he stepped off the bus en route to the gathering Tole and his co-accused were waiting.
After hearing a shout of “Come here you” he was approached by the pair and pulled into a lane where Tole rifled through his pockets, removing his wallet and mobile phone.
The man broke free at one point but was then struck over the head with a glass beer bottle as Tole looked on, the court heard.
Kicked and punched him repeatedly
“He was then pushed back against the wall and both men started to punch him repeatedly on the head and chest while demanding that he hand over his bag,” Mr Young added.
“As a result, he fell to the ground, at which point they began to kick him repeatedly on the legs and body. He managed to get back on his feet at which point the assault reverted to punches.
“He agreed to hand over his bag if they stopped punching him.
“The assault stopped and this coincided with staff at the nearby shop, upon hearing the commotion, coming out and shouting at the attackers.”
Later found with victim’s possessions
Tole and his accomplice – who was dealt with at a previous court hearing – made off but were later traced at Tole’s cousin’s home.
“The accused along with the others were found within,” Mr Young said. “The complainer’s bag was also in the flat. His wallet and mobile phone were found outside on the ground directly below the flat window.”
Tole’s shaken victim suffered a cut and lump to the back of his head, redness to his neck and grazing to both hands.
Tole, who is now 18, admitted charges of assault to injury and robbery.
Defence agent Michael Burnett said his client was “immature” and “intoxicated” at the time but has experienced several changes of circumstances for the better in the two years since the offence.
Warned he could still face jail
He said Tole, who first started offending aged just 15, needed “structure” and would benefit from supervision.
Sheriff Andrew Miller said the robbery was “undoubtedly a serious matter” and that both Tole and his co-accused had both “played their part” in assaulting the young man.
However, after taking into consideration his age and the changes in his life since the incident he deemed him suitable for a community-based disposal.
He handed Tole, of Leggart Avenue, Aberdeen, a seven-month curfew and a two-year supervision order.
But he warned him if he doesn’t comply he could face the same fate as his co-accused -who was given a similar sentence at an earlier hearing but failed to comply and so was jailed.
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