THE county man who left a young teenager needing surgery after attacking him outside a McDonald’s restaurant has been jailed.

Lee Rutherford punched the 14-year-old to the face outside the recently-opened takeaway outlet in Dunbar.

Rutherford, described as a prisoner of Edinburgh Prison, repeatedly punched the boy before also striking McDonald’s manager Mairi Allan as she attempted to intervene.

Previously, Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that Rutherford was part of a group causing a large-scale disturbance outside the premises and during the ensuing incident he was seen to repeatedly punch the teenage boy in the face.

The boy suffered serious injuries and has been forced to have metal plates and screws inserted to help his facial injuries heal properly.

The court was told that Rutherford did not intend to strike Ms Allan after he had punched her to the head during the incident, which took place on September 24 last year.

The 25-year-old had left the scene before police arrived but CCTV footage of the incident was viewed by officers and the thug was identified by local officers.

Sheriff Norman McFadyen, who had previously warned Rutherford that he would be jailed for the attack, sentenced Rutherford to 18 months in prison during last Tuesday’s court hearing.

Rutherford admitted assaulting the boy and Ms Allan at Spott Road, Dunbar, on September 24 last year.

Co-accused Daryl Kitt, of James Court, Dunbar, had a not guilty plea accepted by the Crown.