A THUG who attacked an innocent teenager on his way to a fitness class has avoided jail.

Graeme Stevenson carried out the senseless attack on March 4, last year.

The 16-year-old victim had left his home address to attend a kickboxing class on Argyle Street around 6.20pm.

As he made his way down Garscube Road and Cowcaddens he noticed two men walking towards him, now known to be the Stevenson and a friend.

The victim, who was wearing earphones at the time, is said to have not taken much notice of the men until he realised that they were standing behind him.

Stevenson, of Graham Road, Dumbarton, started grabbing and pulling at the strap of the man’s gym bag while they were on Cambridge Street.

He started talking but the witness did not speak English so could not understand what he was saying.

After seizing his headphones and knocking the teenager to the ground, the men started kicking and punching him on the head and body.

Diners at a nearby restaurant saw the attack and called the police who arrived on scene a short time later.

Luckily, the victim didn’t require any medical treatment but was left shaken by the incident.

Stevenson appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to the attack.

The court heard how he had been drinking “all day” and had little recollection about what happened but was ashamed of his actions.

Sheriff Gerard Bonner described the incident as a “significant event which must have caused significant distress to the victim”.

He ordered Stevenson to undergo 300 hours of unpaid work within a period of nine months.

He will also be under the supervision of the social work department for 18 months.