Ross McColm, convicted of Ayr Tesco assault, dies in prison
A 19-year-old man jailed three months ago for assault has died in custody, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has confirmed.
Ross McColm admitted attacking another teenager with two others at a Tesco store in Ayr on 28 October 2010.
His victim, John Ferguson, was seriously injured, ending his hopes of a career in the Army.
McColm was sentenced to five years at Polmont Youth Offenders Institute. The SPS said he died on Monday.
His two co-accused - Steven Qua, 18, and Shaun Qua, 17 - also admitted the assault and were jailed after a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh in November last year.
The court heard how Mr Ferguson, 18, was repeatedly punched and kicked by the trio before falling to the ground. He was kicked on the head and lost consciousness as the assault continued.
A security guard found him lying semi-conscious in the car park. He helped him back to the store and emergency services were alerted.
A surgeon regarded his injuries as life-threatening and his skull was drilled to remove the clot and control bleeding.
Steven Qua, from Ochiltree, McColm, from Ayr, and Shaun Qua, from Ayr, were originally charged with attempting to murder Mr Ferguson.
The Crown later accepted their guilty pleas to assaulting him to his severe injury and to the danger of his life.