A TEENAGER is behind bars after carrying out a vicious attack outside Helensburgh’s main railway station following a street fight pre-arranged on a social media site.

The Clydebank 16-year-old pleaded guilty to assaulting his victim at Helensburgh Central on July 25 last year by striking him on the head with a broken bottle to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

The case called at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Tuesday, when fiscal depute Sarah Healing said the victim was added to a Facebook group chat on July 23, in which a meeting was arranged for a fight to take place in Helensburgh two days later.

Ms Healing said the victim attended Helensburgh Central on the evening of July 25 and awaited the arrival of the Clydebank group – but when they didn’t show up at the pre-arranged time, the victim stayed in Helensburgh, while his friends boarded a train to Cardross.

The court heard the accused, who can’t be named for legal reasons, boarded a train to Helensburgh for the pre-arranged fight, and during the journey found a glass bottle and placed it in a bag he was carrying.

The victim and his friend were sitting in a bus shelter near the rail station when they noticed a vehicle pull up.

The accused got out of the car with three other men and all approached the victim before initiating “a square go”.

Ms Healing told the court: “The fight came to an end and the complainer gloated that he was the winner.

“The accused was observed to be in possession of a bottle he was waving about.

“The complainer moved into the station, and the accused followed and broke the bottle on a wall. He struck the complainer once in the face.

“Members of staff arrived and the group dispersed. Police were called and the complainer was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital by ambulance with a 5cm laceration, where it was cleaned and stitched.

“The injury has healed but the complainer has been left with a scar.”

Enquiries were carried out and the accused was found in George Street, where he was detained before being taken to Clydebank police office.

He was interviewed but made no comment, and was cautioned and charged before being released.

Sheriff William Gallacher said: “This was an act of barbarity. He armed himself with a bottle, broke it, and attacked someone.”

The teenager’s solicitor told the court the fight was pre-arranged, but his client was not part of it. He said in the aftermath, the victim made a comment about the accused’s mum and he reacted.

The solicitor said: “He knows he shouldn’t have.”

Sheriff Gallacher told the accused: “This was a vicious attack.

“You decided to intervene and used a weapon.”

The case was adjourned until May 5 to obtain a social work report.

The accused was remanded in custody.