A TEENAGER has admitted attacking a man in the Asda superstore in Galashiels.

Nineteen-year-old Kieran Linford pleaded guilty to that while acting with other juveniles assaulting the man by pushing him to the ground and punching him on the head on April 2 last year.

Fiona Hamilton, prosecuting, told Selkirk Sheriff Court that Linford attended at Asda at 10.25pm and entered an aisle that the complainer was on.

She said: "Along with others he approached the complainer and thereafter assaulted him by punching him to the face and jaw."

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During the assault the victim was subjected to homophobic verbal abuse.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said his client was 18 at the time of the incident and had received a telephone call to say one or two or his friends were encountering difficulties with an older male.

He continued: "He agreed to go down and assist. Things were heated and escalated further. He does not recall shouting anything homophobic but accepts people in the group did."

Lingford, who is now living in Kingsland Square in Peebles, was fined £125 and ordered to pay £100 compensation to his victim. A £10 Victim Surcharge was imposed.