Elgin High Street machete attack leaves teenager with ‘lacerations’ to chest and bicep

A youth was attacked with a machete-style blade after he punched a 17-year-old in the face on Elgin High Street.

Both teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, ended up in a fight on the town’s high street at around 6.15pm on November 16, 2024.

One was struck twice on the body and arm with what he told police was "a machete”.

The 17-year-old appeared before Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald at Inverness Sheriff Court and admitted assault to severe injury but under provocation due to him being a victim first in the violent encounter.

Fiscal depute Susan Love told the court that the casualty suffered lacerations to his chest and bicep with both requiring two stitches each.

"The incident was captured on CCTV and the accused was seen to conceal the blade in his clothes before walking away,” the prosecutor added.

“The two are known to each other and there was previous animosity between them.

"When he was arrested and interviewed by police he told them: 'I didn't mean to. I am sorry.'“

Sheriff Macdonald deferred sentence until June 3 for the preparation of a social background report on the first-time offender, which is longer than usual as he no longer lives in Scotland.

The Sheriff told him: "This is a very serious matter."

The teenager's bail was continued.