Teenager given community service for attacking man who asked if he was gay

A Scottish teenager has been given 120 hours of community service for disfiguring a man who asked if he was gay.

Gary Craig, 18, of Hawick in the Scottish Borders, headbutted and kicked the victim in the head after celebrating New Year’s Eve.

He was walking home from the Hogmanay celebrations when he met the victim and another man on Weensland Road, the Hawickk News reports.

The trio began walking home together but Craig took offence to something the victim said and lashed out, headbutting him and then kicking him in the head while he lay on the ground.

The victim suffered a cut to his eyebrow which required two stitches and has left a permanent scar.

Defence solicitor Rory Bannerman said Craig, a student mechanic, was annoyed because the victim asked if he was gay but should not have hit out.

Craig, a first-time offender, pleaded guilty to the attack.