A schoolboy teacher assault case in Dundee has caused widespread outrage after an 18-year-old pupil who left a teacher permanently disfigured was spared jail.
Keiran Matthew violently assaulted Carol Shaw, a respected educator at St Paul’s Academy, by lifting her and slamming her head-first onto a concrete floor. The brutal act left Ms Shaw unconscious in a pool of blood, with a lasting Y-shaped scar on her head.
Teen who attacked Dundee teacher avoids prison sentence under Scottish law
Despite the severity of the incident, Matthew avoided a prison sentence due to his early guilty plea, prompting concern over justice and safety in Scottish schools.
The attack occurred in March last year when Matthew became agitated over being separated from other pupils to change for PE — a decision made to prevent further aggressive incidents.
Ms Shaw was called in to defuse the situation, having previously calmed him during similar episodes. But events quickly spiralled.
“He then realised they had gone to the ICT class and moved towards the door and said: ‘I’m f**king going in there too’,” Fiscal Depute Laura Bruce told the court.
Moments later, he grabbed Ms Shaw in a “rugby-style grip” and hurled her to the floor. “She was blinded by her own blood. A large amount of blood was seen on the floor,” Bruce continued.
Another teacher described the horrifying scene, saying it looked like a ragdoll being thrown through the air.
Following the attack, the teenager showed little remorse. He calmly played on his phone and propped his feet up on another teacher’s desk.
“Sir, it wasn’t an outburst of anger. She deserved it. The stupid cow deserved it,” he reportedly said
Ms Shaw was rushed to the hospital, where she received ten stitches and was treated for a concussion. According to plastic surgeon Ketki Kaushal, it was fortunate she survived the impact.
The court heard that Matthew has ADHD, a very low IQ, and a history of emotional regulation issues linked to childhood trauma.
Defence solicitor Theo Finlay argued: “He has longstanding issues managing his emotions. He experiences nightmares and requires medication.”
Despite this, many are questioning whether the decision to let him walk free sends the wrong message.
Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith acknowledged that he could have imposed an 18-month prison term but opted for a more lenient sentence under Scottish legal guidelines.
Matthew will now be monitored under social work supervision for three years and is subject to a nightly curfew from 9pm to 7am for 12 months.
“It is not over-egging the pudding or exaggerating to say your attack has affected her life in every aspect. You have robbed her of her career… she suffers panic attacks, nightmares and night terrors,” Sheriff Niven-Smith told the court.
This schoolboy teacher assault case has reignited debate around school safety, mental health provisions for students, and how the legal system responds to violent behaviour in educational settings.
Key concerns include:
- Is enough being done to protect teachers from violent students?
- Should violent offenders with mental health concerns still face custodial sentences?
- What support exists for victims of such traumatic incidents?
As Ms Shaw tries to rebuild her life, the wider educational community is left asking whether justice was truly served.
