A TEENAGER who attacked a former rape suspect a week after he was cleared, leaving him scarred for life, has avoided jail.

Joshua Curran, 18, pounced on the 17-year-old in February this year at a school in Glasgow's east end.

Curran accused the youngster of rape despite him being acquitted in court.

He left his victim needing hospital treatment and with permanent scarring.

Curran pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Curran was put on a community payback order for 18 months which includes 225 hours of unpaid work.

He was also placed on a restriction of liberty order for six months keeping him indoors from 8pm to 7am.

Sheriff Paul Crozier said: “If you were an adult over 21 you would be going to jail.”

The court heard Curran and another boy approached the victim and his friend on a Friday morning at the school.

Curran pushed the boy on the body before striking him on the head.

He then pushed his head against a window and punched him on the head and body.

The victim was pushed towards a door, causing him fall to the ground.

Curran was pulled away from his victim by the head teacher and a teacher.

The victim was “bleeding heavily from his right eye and covered in blood.”

Curran told the head teacher: “The court said he was innocent, but he is guilty, he’s getting it.”

Prosecutor Amanda Gallagher said: “The victim was acquitted of a charge of rape a week before the incident."

He needed six stitches to a gash to his right eye and has scar on his face.

Lawyer, Des Ziolo, defending, told the court the incident was “out of character.”

A non-harassment order was granted for two years stopping contact between Curran and the victim.

Curran, from Glasgow’s Cranhill area, is now a college student.