NEIL MEAGER ERROL ASSAULT: EX-ROYAL MARINE SENTENCED FOR CHILD ATTACK IN ERROL

Neil Meager, a 38-year-old former Royal Marine with a formidable build, has been convicted of assaulting a teenage boy in Errol and subsequently sentenced to community service. Despite his criminal record, Meager was allowed to walk free from Perth Sheriff Court, where he received a sentence of 240 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to immediate imprisonment.

According to court proceedings, the incident occurred on Meager’s 38th birthday last year along Errol High Street. The victim, a 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, recounted that he had a disagreement with Meager earlier that day, which escalated into a violent attack. The teenager described how Meager, who had previously served as a small boats coxswain and team leader in 43 Commando Royal Marines, sat on him and delivered repeated blows to his head. The assault was described as particularly brutal, with Meager’s physical stature and fitness making the attack even more concerning to the court.

Sheriff Neil Bowie, who presided over the case, found Meager guilty of attacking the teenager. The sheriff clarified that the assault was unprovoked and carried out in a public place, emphasizing the severity of the act given Meager’s background and physical capabilities. Sheriff Bowie stated, “This was a nasty assault, particularly given that you are clearly a large, fit and able-bodied man. I have no doubt tempers were raised by whatever provocation you thought led to this. It was neither the time or the place, or the manner for dealing with whatever disagreement you had.”

While Meager was cleared of a second charge involving challenging three children to fight in a threatening manner, the court’s focus remained on the assault. The sheriff expressed concern over Meager’s past, noting that he had previously been convicted of another assault just three years prior. In that earlier case, Meager was involved in a violent attack on his wife, Laura, which resulted in her being bloodied and battered throughout their home. Despite this history, he was spared jail time and instead received 275 hours of unpaid work in 2018.

During the earlier incident, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis described how Meager had grabbed his wife by the hair, dragged her to the ground, and punched her repeatedly in the head and body. The sheriff remarked on the disturbing nature of the attack, noting that a neighbor had witnessed the violence. The court’s decision to impose unpaid work rather than jail reflected the seriousness of the assault but also the court’s consideration of Meager’s overall circumstances and employment status. The recent conviction and sentence serve as a reminder of the ongoing issues surrounding violence and accountability, even among individuals with military backgrounds and prior convictions.