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Vandal trashed farm then scrawled his own name in graffiti at scene

Connor Hay leaving Elgin Sheriff Court.
Connor Hay leaving Elgin Sheriff Court.

A vandal who wreaked havoc at a Moray farm was caught after he daubed his own name in graffiti at the scene.

Connor Hay, from Forres, smashed more than 100 panes of glass at Springfield Farm near his hometown – causing about £1,500 worth of damage.

Yesterday, he appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court to be sentenced for a string of offences, including attacking three men with a mallet in an unprovoked attack.

Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov told the 18-year-old that he could have faced a five-year spell in detention as a result of the crime spree.

However, she opted to spare him a spell behind bars after the court was told he found himself at a “crossroads in his life”.

Hay smashed about 115 panes of glass at the farm overnight on June 27 last year while scrawling swear words and “C Hay” on the side of the building.

The brazen teenager returned again the following night – this time spraying over the lettering had already been daubed there.

DNA samples taken by the police from an aerosol can left at the scene later proved that Hay had been using it.

In a separate incident, Hay used a mallet to hit three strangers on December 27 last year in an “unprovoked” attack.

Fiscal Alex Swain explained the teen, who is currently applying to college for next year, had discharged himself from hospital before going out in Forres.

He punched Peter Ingleby and Elliot Scott for “no reason” outside Forres Community Centre before the parties went their separate ways.

Later that night, the groups again crossed paths, this time in the town’s Russell Place.

Miss Swain said: “The accused approached Mr Scott while holding a mallet and struck him on the head. He then turned to Mr Ingleby and again swung the mallet, striking him on the back of the head.”

Both Mr Ingleby and Mr Scott suffered a concussion as a result of the attack.

Defence solicitor Grant Daglish said: “Mr Hay realises he does need to grow up.

“He’s at a crossroads where he could become a normal citizen or he could become involved in a cycle of offending.”

Sheriff Pasportnikov said: “You seem hell-bent on letting your life spiral out of control. You are lucky to still have the support of your long-suffering family.”

Hay, of Brodie Place, was sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid work, placed under supervision for 18 months, ordered to pay £1,000 compensation and given a 245-day curfew.

He admitted six assault charges from December 27 last year and a further charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing.

He also pleaded guilty to two charges of wilfully or recklessly destroying or damaging property at Springfield Farm as well as a charge of shouting and swearing while being taken in a police vehicle to Burnett Road police station in Inverness on May 6 last year.

He also restricted and obstructed police on September 10 last year at the Forres Community Centre car park by struggling with them and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by preventing a police officer leaving their vehicle on the same day.

Sentence for a further assault charge that occurred at his home on May 17 was deferred for two months.