Teen football star’s “hell” after brutal street attack

Dec 16 2011 by Andrew Burns, Dumfries Standard Friday

A DUMFRIES teenager has described his “eight months of hell” after he was stabbed 12 times in a street attack.

Shaun Handling of Lincluden was attacked near his home by a 15-year-old boy in May.

In court this week, the schoolboy, who was originally charged with attempted murder, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of life.

Seventeen-year-old Shaun, a promising footballer with Queen of the South, was left angered at the acceptance of the plea.

He fumed: “He tried to end my life and yet it is not seen as attempted murder.

“I had an operation which was deemed life threatening so why is it not seen this way?

“He tried to kill me and now he shouldn’t be allowed to live his life in the same way as any other normal person.”

At the High Court in Glasgow on Monday, the plea was accepted on the grounds of diminished responsibility after a doctor determined that the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and Asperger’s syndrome. The stabbing took place in the morning of May 21 in Lincluden Road, Dumfries, after the pair became caught up in an argument.

The court heard that the boy brandished a knife at Shaun and then used it to stab him on the body 12 times.

Shaun said: “The knife had scratched and punctured my liver and I had to be operated on straight away at Dumfries hospital.

“I think they wanted to take me to Carlisle hospital but there wasn’t enough time apparently.

“I can’t really remember too much of what happened to be honest. It all happened so fast and then I was put on morphine after it so the whole thing is a bit blurred.”

He added: “Before it happened I liked being out and about with friends but I couldn’t go out for a while.

“It just didn’t feel right. I couldn’t eat or drink for weeks.

“It was so painful and it is actually still is quite sore.

“It has had a massive impact on me mentally and I just don’t feel myself.

“I have been through eight months of hell and I just want to move on.”

Shaun’s mum Margaret said that the incident has had a massive effect on her son and hopes that justice will be served when the attacker is sentenced next month.

The 39-year-old said: “It has been an incredibly difficult time for Shaun. There is no doubt that this has changed him.

“He was such a bubbly character before this happened and, while things have got a bit better, he is just not the same.”

She added: “I remember being told what had happened and I just couldn’t believe it.

“We know that Shaun was very lucky. This person tried to kill my son. He tried to take my boy away from me and he needs be punished for that.

“I just hope that this lesser plea doesn’t have any impact on his sentencing.”

Shaun, who lives at home with his mum, 44-year-old dad Stuart, and younger brother and sister is on the mend and aiming to follow his dreams with his favourite club.

He explained: “I had no idea what kind of impact this would have on my football life.

“But Queen of the South have been absolutely fantastic during all of this.

“I honestly can’t thank the club enough for everything they have done for me.

“Stuart Rome, the under 19s coach, has set up gym programmes to help me get back on the mend.

“I missed the entire pre-season and am still not back to full fitness.

“But the club gave me a chance a chance and I have signed a contract.

“I have been playing with the under 19s team and I just want to push on now and get on with my life.”

The day after the stabbing, his teammates paid tribute to the former pupil Lincluden Primary and Maxwelltown High School.

Shaun said: “We were meant to be playing away to Berwick Rangers the day after it happened.

“All the boys from the team had ‘Get well soon, Shaun’ written on their stomachs and they showed it off when they scored.

“They all got booked for it and we drew the game 1-1!

“But that really meant a lot to me when I heard about it.”