A young thug who brutally stabbed a 16-year-old in an unprovoked attack was caught after leaving a juice bottle at the scene.

Lewis Brown struck the victim in the chest with a curved karambit-style knife, sometimes used in forms of martial arts.

The 19-year-old took a taxi to the scene of the attack and pounced on the teenager as he stood waiting for a bus in Johnstone, Renfrewshire on September 13, 2023.

First-offender Brown today admitted assaulting the youngster to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life as he appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.

Brown, of Paisley, also Renfrewshire, had been on bail but was remanded in custody by judge Lord Cubie.

Sentencing was adjourned for reports.

The 16-year-old - who cannot be identified due to his age - was waiting for a bus at the time to take him to college.

Brown got a taxi that lunchtime and asked to be dropped off near the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service building in Johnstone.

This was near to where the attack then occurred.

Prosecutor Neil McCulloch said: "The driver observed during the journey that Brown had his hood up and a scarf covering his face."

When the young thug then got out of the cab, he was described as "sprinting away".

The victim was still at the bus stop when he clocked Brown and an accomplice running at him.

He feared he was going to be attacked and backed off onto the road.

Mr McCulloch said Brown still had his face covered and was clutching the potentially deadly karambit-style knife.

He swung the blade but initially missed. The victim managed to punch Brown to try and get him away.

The thug swiped the weapon again before eventually stabbing the boy in the chest.

Mr McCulloch: "One of the males then shouted: 'Let's get out of here before the police come'."

Mercy crews arrived after a concerned witness dialled 999.

The boy was bleeding heavily from a single stab wound. 

The victim had suffered a punctured lung but was fortunately able to leave the hospital three days later after treatment.

The court heard his injury was potentially life-threatening had he not got to hospital.

He is still, however, left scarred for life.

Brown had fled from police having initially been spotted shortly after the stabbing.

Mr McCulloch then explained: "He was confirmed to be the individual responsible following recovery of his DNA from a soft drink bottle discarded at the scene."

Brown eventually handed himself in to police on September 18.

Lord Cubie today told Brown: "You have pleaded guilty to a very serious offence of an unprovoked knife attack in the middle of the day.

"You assaulted and endangered the life of the victim. There seems to be, in some sense, that it was pre-planned.

"It was not some spontaneous reaction. You travelled there and apparently selected your victim.

"It is a matter of luck that it is not a more serious charge. Clearly from the victim impact statement, the consequences have been life-changing and profound."

Brown will be sentenced on December 6 in Edinburgh.