A JUDGE told violent thugs who stabbed a shopkeeper three times and robbed him of alcohol on Christmas Eve that they behaved like wild animals.

Darren Timothy 24, and a 16-year-old and a 14-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted attempting to murder dad-of-one Atiq-Ur Rehman, 40 at the Glenhove Store, Glenhove Drive, Cumbernauld, on December 24, last year.

Co-accused Kieran Ruddy, 20, from Cumbernauld, admitted assaulting Mr Rehman by kicking and punching him on the head and body.

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The High Court in Glasgow heard that Mr Rehman was stabbed three times and suffered a fractured shoulder.

The brutal attack which was caught on CCTV in the convenience store was shown to the court.

Judge Lord Mulholland told them: “You behaved like a pack of wild animals to a man that was just serving the community.

“What you subjected him to was nothing short of a disgrace.”

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Ruddy and the 16-year-old , who were were wearing hoods, entered the shop at 7.50pm on December 24.

Timothy and a 14-year old, who were armed armed with blades and a baseball bat, then came in.

The accused jumped over the counter to steal alcohol and continued assaulting Mr Rehman by throwing bottles at him.

They then ran from the shop, but came back and assaulted Mr Rehman again before finally leaving.

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During the incident, Mr Rehman tried to defend himself by lifting a box of bottles but he dropped them and the 16-year-old repeatedly struck him with one of the broken bottles.

He was rushed to Monklands Hospital in Airdrie and discharged five days later.

Defence counsel for all accused will give their pleas in mitigation when the case recalls.

Judge Lord Mulholland deferred sentencing until next month and the four were remanded in custody.