Man kicked girl, 15, in head during McDonald's gang attack

A man who was caught on CCTV attacking another man and a 15-year-old girl at the door of a McDonald’s restaurant has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Stephen Thomson, 28, initially punched, kicked and stamped on Dean Bryson in the assault described as “relentless”.

As Mr Bryson lay stricken, Thomson, who was with four others, then assaulted the girl during the incident in Airdrie, Lanarkshire in August 2018.

His then girlfriend Shelby Bowrman, a 17-year-old girl who cannot be named for legal reasons, and another young woman started to assault the schoolgirl who had her hair extensions ripped out and was knocked to the floor.

Thomson, from Motherwell, proceeded to kick the girl on the head while she was on the ground.

Another man who could not be identified was seen assaulting Mr Bryson as he lay on the floor.

At the High Court in Glasgow judge Lady Stacey who was shown the CCTV footage, told Thomson: “What happened that day was very difficult to watch. It was dangerous and it is fortunate the injuries weren’t more serious.”

Thomson pled guilty to assaulting Mr Bryson to his severe injury and danger of life and to attacking the teenager to her injury.

Bowrman, 21, also from Motherwell, and the 17-year-old girl also pled guilty to assaulting the 15-year-old.

Their actions were described by Lady Stacey as ‘disgraceful.” she placed Bowrman, a mother-of-four, on a one-year supervised community payback order and deferred sentence on the 17-year-old until November 30 for good behaviour.

The incident took place following an earlier incident involving a Vauxhall Corsa Bowrman was driving.

In the early hours, Mr Bryson and the 15-year-old girl spotted the car following them and tried to get into the McDonald’s, but the doors were shut.

Thomson, of Motherwell, Lanarkshire, then raced out the car and jumped Mr Bryson.

Prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel said: “It was relentless as he is seen pulling Dean Bryson by the T-shirt, removing it, punching him and stamping on his head.

“He also kicked him to the face and body.”

Mr Bryson suffered bruising and swelling to his face and the schoolgirl was left with a black eye and large bruise on her leg.

Rhonda Anderson, representing Thomson, said: “He told me he was sickened when he viewed the CCTV footage of what he had done.”