Scots schoolboy left 'stupid cow' teacher lying in pool of blood after hurling her 'like ragdoll'

A pupil who carried out a savage attack on a teacher and left her lying lifeless in a pool of blood has been allowed to walk free from court.
Secondary school teacher Carol Shaw's life was endangered and she was left scarred for life after being picked up and dumped head-first on a concrete floor. Ms Shaw was knocked unconscious after being hurled "like a ragdoll" by angry pupil Kieran Matthew, 18, from Dundee.
Shortly after carrying out the vicious attack on 22 March 2024, the teenage pupil put his feet up on another teacher's desk and said: "The stupid cow deserved it."
Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith said: "It is difficult to imagine a more serious assault, having regard to the consequences of your attack for Ms Shaw. It is not over-egging the pudding or exaggerating to say your attack has affected her life in every aspect. She is permanently disfigured. Photos show an extensive, significant scar on her head.
"Until her promotion, she was the safe person for you to seek sanctuary with if you felt overwhelmed. She has dedicated her life to vulnerable school children such as you. You have robbed her of her career as she has been unable to go back to school due to panic attacks, nightmares and night terrors as a result of this assault."
He told Matthew the offence merited 18 months in custody, but said it would be reduced for an early guilty plea. He said it would then fall within the sentencing rules on avoiding short-term sentences [under 12 months] for first offenders if an alternative is available.
Matthew was placed under social work supervision for three years and ordered to attend Mentoring for Men and Designer Skills courses including anger management. He also placed Matthew on a Restriction of Liberty Order for 12 months from 9pm to 7am each night.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard how the St Paul's Academy teacher was left with a highly visible Y-shaped scar on her head and had been too traumatised to return to work. Matthew, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] and an "extremely low" IQ range between 47 and 59, admitted attacking and injuring the teacher.
The horrific assault took place after Matthew, who was in S5 at the Dundee school, refused to get changed separately from other pupils before a PE class. This measure - agreed by Matthew, his foster mum and the school - had been put in place because of previous aggression towards other children.
Fiscal depute Laura Bruce said Matthew was described as a "couple of years behind" in his development and was educated outside mainstream classes. On the afternoon in question, six foot tall Matthew was said to have been " agitated and heightened" over the pre-PE changing.
The teacher who would be attacked was deemed to be a "safe" person for him and had previously succeeded in de-escalating volatile incidents. She took the decision to have two other teachers and pupils placed in a locked classroom away from Matthew, who sat with his head down at a table.
Mrs Bruce said: "The accused then realised they had gone to the ICT class and moved towards the door and said 'I'm f*****g going in there too'. He tried to exit to the corridor where Ms Shaw had her back to him.
"She recalls him gripping her in a rugby-style grip with her arms pinned to her sides and the next thing she felt was the horrific impact of her head striking the floor."
The court heard the teacher blacked out momentarily but regained consciousness and made a bloody handprint on the wall as she tried to get to her feet. Staff came to her aid after she screamed for help while bleeding profusely. "She was blinded by her own blood, which covered her face and top with a large amount of blood seen on the floor," Mrs Bruce said.
"Another teacher had witnessed the accused lift her completely off her feet, throwing her to the floor deliberately and landing headfirst. Another said she appeared to be like a ragdoll flying through the air. The accused sat at a teacher's desk, with his feet on the desk and using his mobile phone. He told a teacher 'Sir, it wasn't an outburst of anger. She deserved it'."
During a phone call to tell someone he hit a teacher, Matthew again said "she deserved it". He later banged on the desk and said: "The stupid cow deserved it."
A colleague took the injured teacher to Ninewells Hospital because of an expected 20-minute wait for an ambulance. She was given ten stitches and had to return for a CT scan because she was confused and unable to finish sentences. The woman was diagnosed with concussion and plastic surgeon Dr Ketki Kaushal said the assault could have been life-threatening. After being cautioned and charged, Matthew, of Dundee, replied: "I am sorry."
He pled guilty to seizing the teacher's neck and body, throwing her to the floor, causing her to strike her head and be rendered unconscious. He admitted the assault was to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and the danger of her life.
Solicitor Theo Finlay, defending, said Matthew had moved to foster care as a young child after being subjected to abuse in his biological family home. Mr Finlay said: "He has had longstanding issues managing his emotions. It is likely he was already in a heightened condition. He experiences nightmares and requires to be medicated.
"That is attributed to childhood abuse. He needs prompts to eat and struggles in noisy or busy environments. He was not being allowed into the changing room and had feelings of unfairness.
"He described becoming agitated. The teacher moved others away, which made him feel more agitated and singled out. At school he felt intensely disliked and frequently provoked by his peers."

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Metro

a day ago

• Metro

This is why it seems like everyone has ADHD right now — including you

It might seem like 'everyone has ADHD right now' – but that couldn't be further from the truth (Picture: Metro) Opening up to a friend after I was diagnosed with ADHD, I voiced my struggles with time blindness, lateness, general disorganisation, and emotional dysregulation. 'But isn't it normal to get a little bit distracted sometimes? I probably have ADHD too, if that's the case' she said to me. My heart sank, feeling both rejected and my life experiences diminished in one simple interaction. I doubt she meant to upset me, but her words stung. There's an increasing perception that having ADHD is becoming a 'trend' or a 'personality quirk.' Just like OCD has been carelessly thrown about as being neat and tidy, ADHD is starting to become synonymous with making seemingly normal, harmless mistakes like misplacing a purse, or being 10 minutes late to a coffee date. As soon as I first read about ADHD in women, I knew that I had it. I once lost my house keys and paid my landlord for another set, only to find them wedged down the back of the sofa when I moved out. I also impulsively switched subjects during my GCSEs, A Levels and university; I had my library card revoked at the age of 10 after I failed to return the books I'd borrowed, and I'd spent my whole life feeling that my brain was simply a little bit different. So, does everyone really have ADHD now? Or are we just being equipped with the tools to navigate our own brains, and connecting with a like-minded community in the process? Have ADHD diagnoses increased in the last few years? In 2023, a study from UCL found that the number of people being diagnosed with ADHD has increased over the last 20 years, but this doesn't mean that 'everyone' has it now. Between 2000 and 2018, there was a twenty-fold increase in ADHD diagnoses, rising to almost fifty-fold in ADHD prescriptions issued to men aged 18-29. Largely owing to medical misogyny that favours research into symptoms in men and boys, women are still largely going undetected: the ADHD Foundation estimates that between 50 and 70% of the 1,000,000 women in the UK living with ADHD are undiagnosed. There might've been an increase in people seeking help for ADHD in recent years, but that doesn't mean that the condition is becoming more common. It still only impacts between 2% and 6% of the world's population. ADHD impacts between 2% and 6% of the population (Picture: Getty Images) Likewise, a 2025 review from King's College London looked at 40 studies across 17 countries and concluded that the prevalence of ADHD (AKA, the number of people living with a condition within a specific timeframe) hasn't increased since 2020. The author, Dr Alex Martin, noted that while much of the media has been concerned about a 'surge' in ADHD diagnoses, both 'assessments and help-seeking' are snowballing – which goes some way towards explaining why it might feel like more people have it now. There are also multiple barriers to diagnosis, including excessive NHS waiting times (as long as eight years in some parts of the UK), and the hefty cost of a private diagnosis, which averages out at £1,200 for adults. For many, self-diagnosis is their only option – and that's valid. Meeting the threshold for diagnosis Getting an ADHD diagnosis isn't an easy task, and psychiatrists certainly aren't handing them out like they're lollipops. To qualify, adults need to align with at least five symptoms on the DSM-5, the framework that's used to detect it. As psychologist and clinical director Dr Angela Pickering tells Metro, various symptoms of ADHD might seem relatable to the general non-neurodivergent public. But what differentiates these symptoms between being a normal part of life and being suggestive of neurodiversity is the frequency with which they happen and how debilitating they are. 'The key difference is that for someone with ADHD, these symptoms are persistent, pervasive and significantly impact their ability to function in daily life, across multiple settings such as work, school and relationships,' Dr Angela explains. ADHD isn't just being 'scatterbrained' or 'disorganised': in Angela's words, it's a 'neurodevelopmental condition rooted in differences in brain structure and function.' And so, a diagnosis doesn't just require checking off a few traits, but a 'detailed evaluation to understand the full context of a person's life and challenges.' As part of an ADHD assessment, psychiatrists will look at the pattern, intensity, and consistency of symptoms over time, even going as far as to ask a parent or family member to testify that their loved one's symptoms have longevity and started before the age of 12. When I was diagnosed in November 2021, I asked my mum to fill out the forms for me. Thankfully, she was able to recall with colour the school reports that were constantly telling me I was bright but needed to pay attention to detail and listen more; the eye tics that saw me blinking multiple times in a row, and my persistently hyperactive nature. I used to enjoy talking so much that I'd ask my parents if I could read my book aloud to them; my room was almost never tidy, and I had trouble paying attention in the classroom, often doodling into the line margins of my exercise books. So at the age of 23, I almost cried when I heard the words: 'you have combined ADHD' from my psychiatrist, as in one short moment, years of suffering were validated. Thankfully, I'd been able to skip the lengthy NHS waiting queue and had the cost of my private diagnosis funded through Right to Choose, so I was diagnosed within a matter of months, rather than years. Do you have ADHD, or is modern life just overwhelming? The reality is that, in the modern world, many of us will be feeling burnt out and overwhelmed by information. So, is it any surprise that we're increasingly distractible? As Dr Andrea explains: 'There's certainly growing evidence that people feel their environment – especially constant exposure to digital devices, social media and multitasking – can reduce attention spans and increase distractibility, even in people without ADHD.' With this in mind, the 'human brain simply didn't evolve to handle the level of information and stimulation we now face daily.' 'But while modern life can make anyone feel distracted, ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition with symptoms that are consistent, long-standing and impairing across multiple areas of life,' she reminds us. So, whenever I hear people trivialising ADHD, I can't help but feel angry. It's not a quirky personality trait: it's an incredibly debilitating condition, and it's exhausting navigating a world designed by and for neurotypical people. ADHD isn't just losing your wallet or being a little bit 'scatty': it's so much more than that. Neurodiversity is finally in the limelight, and with awareness increasing, so many more people are sharing their stories. No doubt, it's saving lives. But the truth is that awareness without understanding is useless, and to suggest that 'everyone has it' diminishes the experiences of those who actually live with it. And no, it's not a 'superpower.' You don't have ADHD if you just forget your keys sometimes; you're probably just a regular human being living in an increasingly hectic world. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ Arrow MORE: I'm desperate to lose my virginity but have a panic attack whenever I come close Arrow MORE: Video games are great for my mental and physical wellbeing – Reader's Feature Arrow MORE: Heston Blumenthal reveals touching wish after emotional moment with son

Scottish Sun

2 days ago

• Scottish Sun

Eye-watering cost of ADHD handouts in Scotland revealed – and experts warn it'll only get bigger

The next year there was a 28-times increase to almost £14million 'BALLOONING' BENEFITS Eye-watering cost of ADHD handouts in Scotland revealed – and experts warn it'll only get bigger Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ADHD handouts are set to hit £100million just three years after the payments were introduced. Social Security Scotland handed out £500,000 in 2022, after taking over the benefits. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The cost of ADHD handouts have skyrocketed to £100million in three years Credit: Getty 2 Liz Smith said Scotland's benefits bill is "ballooning out of control" Credit: Alamy The next year there was a 28-times increase to almost £14million. This ballooned again in 2024 to £35million, while this year the figure is predicted to top £50million. And experts warn the bill for sufferers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder will only get bigger. Scottish Tory social security spokeswoman Liz Smith said: 'Scotland's benefits bill is ballooning out of control. 'While it is essential that adult disability payments support the most vulnerable, it's also essential there is a strong focus on getting as many people as possible back into work.' Scottish Lib Dems leader Alex Cole-Hamilton added: 'The system is broken. We should be spending far more to prevent and treat mental health conditions.' In the past three years, 13,896 adults have applied for ADHD payouts, with 8,204 approved. Those on a standard rate get almost £4,000 a year, while the average claimant has received £8,000 since the system went live. Around two to four per cent of adults have the condition and new Government stats show a surge in benefit applications. Claimants do not need a formal ADHD diagnosis for approval but must have supporting information from medical specialists. New sinister threat issued in ongoing Scotland gang war It emerged this week that firms are offering a 'no-win, no fee' service to help with ADHD claims. John O'Connell, from the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'The surge in claims for certain conditions calls into question the whole benefits system itself, which is designed to help people in need. "Politicians must ensure only those genuinely deserving receive support.' But Bill Colley, chair of the ADHD Coalition Scotland, said: 'Awards are made not on the basis of a simple diagnosis but on the severity of symptoms and thus impairment, particularly where ADHD leads to complex mental health difficulties.' Since disability payments launched, SSC paid out £2.9 billion, with £1.2 billion going to new applicants and £1.6 billion to those transferred from the DWP. The Scottish Fiscal Commission recently warned of a cash crisis, predicting ministers will be spending £2.2billion more on benefits than they receive from the UK Government by 2030/31. This would see the total welfare bill balloon to £9.4billion, about 15 per cent of the total Scots budget. A SSS spokesperson said: 'Social security is a human right. We are committed to ensuring eligible people get the support they deserve. 'While a diagnosis is not required to apply, we do need supporting information from a professional such as a doctor or psychologist who knows how the person's condition impacts their daily life.'

Daily Mail​

3 days ago

• Daily Mail​

Warning over 'two tier' support for ADHD sufferers amid 'significant' rise in the use of unregulated private providers

NHS waiting lists for ADHD diagnosis and support have led to a 'significant' rise in the use of unregulated private providers, a report has said. The ADHD Taskforce, commissioned by NHS England with the support of the Government, has published an interim report calling for the system of diagnosing and managing the neurological condition to be overhauled. ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is characterised by patterns of restlessness, impulsivity and difficulty concentrating on one thing, with assessment and treatment typically provided by highly specialised doctors. But the report warned: 'Inability to access NHS services has led to a significant growth in the use of private providers that are not regulated, resulting in two-tier access to services, diagnosis and treatment; one for those who can pay and another for those who cannot. 'This drives health inequalities and links to disproportionate impacts and outcomes in the education and justice systems, employment and health.' Experts said waiting times for NHS ADHD services 'have escalated and are unacceptably long', with demand on services 'very likely' to continue to rise. Professor Anita Thapar, chair of the ADHD Taskforce, said: 'We need to get this right – to make sure people get early diagnosis and support.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'The report into the state of the NHS laid out how severe the delays have become for people waiting for an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis.'