Teenager who attempted suicide after stabbing man told by judge that it’s unlikely he’ll receive a jail term

A teenager has been told by a judge that he is likely to escape a custodial sentence for stabbing a householder who confronted him for trying to break into neighbours’ cars.

Kieran Mason, 16, was under the influence of drink and drugs when he twice plunged a knife with a six inch blade into the body of John Howson, 57, a chemistry teacher, outside his home in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire,

Mr Howson’s life was put in danger and he was helped by a GP neighbour before being rushed to hospital for treatment.

An older accomplice was sentenced to detention for four years and three months by Lord Jones at the High Court in Edinburgh, but the judge said he was minded to follow a recommendation in a background report that Mason be spared custody.

Lord Jones accepted the youth, only 15 at the time, had been led by others, and that he was so riddled with guilt that he had tried to take his own life.

The case was continued for a mental health assessment of Mason, and he was freed on bail.

Mason, of Dalveen Quadrant, and Liam Brown, 20, of Maybole Place, both Coatbridge, were charged with attempting to murder Mr Howson in the early hours of 3 October last year, but pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of assaulting him to his severe injury and to the danger of his life.

Disturbance

The court heard the pair, and a third unidentified youth, had been drinking and/or taking drugs such as Valium, and at around 5:15am, several householders were disturbed from their sleep.

“The three males were seen to be trying the door handles of cars and they were on the lookout for opportunistic thefts from cars,” said the advocate-depute, Andrew MacMillan.

Aileen Howson noticed the rear garden security light at her home had come on, and she woke her husband. He went out and saw Brown in the driveway of a house across the street. He walked into the roadway and shouted: “What are you doing?” Brown approached, swore at Mr Howson and punched him to the ground.

Mr Howson managed to get up and backed into his garden. He was punched and kicked by the other two.

“During this part of the assault, Mr Howson was stabbed with a knife on two occasions by Mason. He managed to get back to his feet and retreated towards his house. Brown took possession of the knife - it was described as being a large knife with a six-inch blade - and moved towards Mr Howson, saying, ‘You are gonnae get this again,’ “ said Mr MacMillan.

The group fled on seeing Mrs Howson phoning the police. She and a neighbour, a doctor, helped her husband until police and an ambulance arrived. He was treated for a cut to the back of the head, and stab wounds to the chest and back. He was discharged from hospital after 24 hours of observation.

Shocked

The defence counsel, Graham Robertson, said Mason had never before been in trouble and was regarded as “a quiet, considerate young man.” His family was “totally appalled and shocked” at what he had done.

“He has shown genuine remorse. He is devastated by what he did. What happened is something he cannot fully explain or articulate, and feels shame for,” added Mr Robertson.

Lord Jones said a background report spoke of Mason’s immaturity and naivety, and suggested he had been led by others. It was the first time he had experienced substance abuse.

“You appear to have shown genuine remorse. In May, you made a serious attempt to take your own life. The emergency services were called and it was established the suicide attempt resulted from your feelings of guilt for stabbing the victim. It is considered unlikely you will cause serious harm in the future,” added the judge.

“The author (of the background report) suggests the court considers a non-custodial disposal. In the very special circumstances of this particular case, I am minded to follow that course.”

Sentence was deferred until January for a mental health assessment.

The court heard that Brown, whose father was serving a life sentence for a murder in 2003, was on probation and bail when he took part in the attack on Mr Howson.

Lord Jones said Brown had been assessed as posing a “very high risk of harm” and he would be supervised for two years at the end of his custodial sentence.