Teenager who injured police officer in brick attack given community payback order

A teenager who left a police officer with a head injury after throwing a brick at a police van during a Halloween night riot in Edinburgh has been ordered to pay the constable compensation.

Kieran Sutherland left the officer permanently scarred and suffering from psychological issues after throwing the rock through the window of the vehicle during the incident in the Niddrie area of the capital in 2024.

Sutherland, 19, was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and was placed on a 20-month supervision order.

He was also ordered to pay the officer £1,000 during the hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after previously admitting a charge of culpable and reckless conduct.

His co-accused, Sean McGovern, 18, and Nathan Anderson, 21, were sentenced for their part in the disorder.

The three, all from Edinburgh, also pleaded guilty to offences said to be aggravated by use of a firework in relation to an emergency worker.

The court was previously shown CCTV footage of masked youths launching fireworks and missiles at police officers and vehicles which had been deployed to Niddrie Mains Road in a bid to halt the violence on 31 October 2024.

Fiscal depute Emma Laing said the officer suffered a serious injury to her head after being struck by the brick thrown by Sutherland.

She also described an incident where two officers were forced to retreat back into their vehicle after a large group of yobs targeted them at about 21:00 the same evening.

The police van was subsequently bombarded with fireworks and an explosive thrown by McGovern caused the windscreen to crack.

The court was told Sutherland, McGovern and Anderson had all been identified after being caught on CCTV footage and were later arrested and charged.

McGovern admitted smashing a police van windscreen with a firework in an attack described by Sheriff Komorowski as "deeply disturbing and concerning".

He was sentenced to a 300-hour unpaid work order and a restriction of movement curfew where he must stay within his home between 22:00 and 06:00 for six months.

Anderson pleaded guilty to igniting and aiming fireworks at police officers and throwing bricks at vehicles and members of the public.

He also incited other members of the mob to join in with the violent attacks and was sentenced to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work in the community.