Disgraced Scots football starlet Ciaran Dickson has been allegedly brutally battered in prison while serving his sentence over a drunken hit-and-run death. The 22-year-old, who is also a convicted domestic abuser, was caged earlier this year over the death of talented teenager Aidan Pilkington in Glasgow.
Dickson, who was on the books of both Celtic and Rangers and tipped for a top career before going off the rails, struck the 18-year-old while driving drunk after a night out. And the talented attacker was left nursing serious injuries after being set upon by a fellow prisoner in Glasgow’s Barlinnie prison.
Police Scotland are now investigating the attack, which took place earlier this month. He was rushed to the city’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital following the incident, which sources say left him nursing a broken jaw, among other injuries. One said: “He has always loved himself and had a big ego.
“But when you’re as talented as he is and played for the two biggest clubs in Scotland it’s kind of understandable. He’s been rubbing people up the wrong way in jail. Bar is home to some serious criminals and it’s no surprise that he’s been left with a sore face. He was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth and given treatment.
“Apparently he broke his jaw and was kept in hospital for a bit before being released.” Another source added: “Trouble seems to follow him about and it was only a matter of time before something serious like this happened. Maybe it will make him think twice about how he acts going forward, especially amongst other criminals.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of a disturbance within HMP Barlinnie on Monday, December 9, 2024. A 22-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment. Enquiries are ongoing.” A spokesperson for the Scottish Prison Service, the organisation in charge of HMP Barlinnie, said: “We do not comment on individuals.”
Dickson struck 18-year-old Aidan in Glasgow’s Anniesland on September 11, 2021, after downing beers and cocktails on a night out with a friend. He raced down a road where Aidan was crossing, striking him and dragging him along the ground, leaving him with catastrophic head injuries.
Dickson then fled the scene and dumped his rented Mercedes near his home. Dickson admitted a charge of causing death by dangerous driving during a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow. Judge Lord Colbeck said the sentencing range for the offence was between seven to 12 years.
As he caged Dickson for six years, he said he would have sentenced him to eight years if he hadn’t pleaded guilty. Last year Dickson, of Erskine, Renfrewshire, also admitted terrorising his ex following their split, by hitting, harassing, threatening, and stalking her. Paisley Sheriff Court heard he repeatedly called his former girlfriend names.
He also accused her of stealing money and threatened to share an intimate video of her. On one occasion he punched the girl because she was eating crisps while wearing his pyjamas, lashing out as he didn’t want his nightwear to smell of the snack. The court was told he hounded her between May and November 2022 after their relationship came to an end.
He was due to go on trial over the claims but pleaded guilty to a reduced charge. Allegations that he had also prevented her from leaving his home so she could go to work, and punched her car, were dropped by prosecutors. In 2021 he joined Celtic after leaving Rangers, and scored two goals in his first two games for Celtic’s B team after crossing the Glasgow divide.
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