A BABY-FACED thug who left a teenager with his internal organs hanging out after stabbing him in Barrhead has completed the unpaid work he was given as punishment.

The yob was just 15 when he plunged a blade into Stephan Downey outside a Post Office in Cross Arthurlie Street one night in October 2017.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard the attacker was part of a gang which had been terrorising his neighbourhood.

Mr Downey, 18, ended up in a high dependency unit at hospital after being treated for his injuries, which included two puncture wounds and a cut on his small bowel.

The attack took place as Mr Downey and a friend passed the youngster and a crowd of other youths outside the Post Office.

Last year, procurator fiscal depute Keri Marshall told the court: “The witness Downey stopped and questioned the accused about an alleged previous incident which happened on a train a month before.

“The accused denied being involved in the incident and laughed at the witness.

“Mr Downey then became involved in a heated argument with the accused and, during the heated argument, the accused stepped forwards towards the witness Downey, pulled his right hand from his jacket pocket and struck the witness to the stomach area.”

The court heard Mr Downey initially believed he had been punched in the stomach and started to walk away but then noticed his attacker had a knife.

Miss Marshall added: “On closer inspection, Mr Downey realised he had been stabbed in the lower stomach. There was very little blood but it appeared some of his internal organs were protruding from the wound.”

After hearing that the youngster was due to complete his apprenticeship in July 2019, Sheriff Tom McCartney opted to leave him as a free man, placing him on a Community Payback Order and Restriction of Liberty Order.

He told the teen he would be supervised for three years by social workers, had to complete 240 hours of unpaid work within 12 months and remain within his home between 7pm and 7am for eight months.

Last week, when the youngster returned to the dock for a review of his progress, Sheriff McCartney was told he had carried out all of the unpaid work he had been ordered to.

After hearing that the teenager now works part-time in a supermarket, Sheriff McCartney continued the case for four months for a further review to take place.