Teenager who stabbed 16-year-old boy in Johnstone was caught after leaving juice bottle at the scene

The teenager who brutally stabbed a 16-year-old teenager in an unprovoked attack was caught after leaving a juice bottle at the scene.

Lewis Brown struck the victim in the chest with a curved karambit-style knife sometimes used in martial arts.

The 19-year-old got into a taxi to the scene of the attack and attacked the teenager while he was waiting for a bus in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, on September 13, 2023.

First offender Brown admitted assaulting the teenager on Thursday as he appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow, causing serious injury, permanent disfigurement and endangering his life.

Brown, of Paisley, also in Renfrewshire, was granted bail but was remanded in custody by judge Lord Cubie.

The sentence was postponed due to the reports.

The 16-year-old, who could not be identified due to his age, was waiting for the bus that would take him to the university.

Meanwhile, Brown had taken a taxi that lunchtime and asked to be dropped off near the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service building in Johnstone.

This was close to where the attack took place.

Prosecutor Neil McCulloch said: “During the journey the driver observed Brown take off his hood and cover his face with a scarf.”

The young thug was later described as “running away” when he got out of the taxi.

The victim was still at the bus stop when he noticed Brown and an accomplice running toward him.

He feared he would be attacked and retreated to the road.

Mr McCulloch said Brown still had his face covered and was holding the potentially lethal karambit-style knife.

He swung the knife but initially missed. The victim was able to punch Brown to save him.

The bandit swung the gun again and finally stabbed the boy in the chest.

Mr McCulloch said: “One of the men shouted: ‘Let’s get out of here before the police arrive’.”

Mercy crews attended the scene after a concerned witness called 999.

The child was bleeding heavily from a single stab wound.

The victim suffered a puncture wound in his lung, but fortunately was able to leave the hospital three days later after treatment.

The court heard his injuries could have been potentially life-threatening had he not been taken to hospital.

But he was still scarred for life.

Brown ran away from police when he was spotted shortly after the stabbing.

Mr McCulloch later explained: “He was confirmed to be the person responsible after his DNA was found from a soft drinks bottle thrown at the scene.”

Brown eventually surrendered to police on September 18.

Lord Cubie told Brown: “You have admitted a very serious offense with an unprovoked knife attack in the middle of the day.

“You attacked the victim and endangered his life. In a way, it seems premeditated.

“This was not a spontaneous reaction. You went there and apparently chose your victim.

“It’s just a matter of luck that there isn’t a more serious charge. As the victim impact statement makes clear, the consequences are life-changing and profound.”

Brown will be sentenced in Edinburgh on December 6.