A Liverpudlian who was visiting Kirkcaldy broke the jaw of the man he was staying with in two places.
Ellis McKeown admitted assaulting the man to his severe injury at a property in Larach Court on July 28 2018.
The 24-year-old is currently serving a prison sentence at HMP Stoke Heath in England and appeared before Sheriff Ian Anderson at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court by video link.
The court heard McKeown, of Stapleton Avenue in Liverpool’s Speke area had been visiting Kirkcaldy and he and an acquaintance had stayed with his victim and his victim’s girlfriend.
At 6am, McKeown was asked to leave and an argument broke out.
Three hours later, he was asked to leave again and landed a single punch on the left side of the man’s face. McKeown and his acquaintance left and police were called.
His victim was rushed to Victoria Hospital for emergency surgery, conducted under general anaesthetic.
Doctors found two fractures in his jaw, one below a canine tooth and the other on the left side and had to use a metal plate and screw to repair the damage.
His solicitor Michelle Renton explained that McKeown’s current sentence, for robbery and dangerous driving, is due to expire on December 4.
She said: “Mr McKeown threw one punch, which has ended up with a fairly severe injury.
“The offence is of some vintage. It took the authorities some time to catch up with Mr McKeown.
“He has a fairly unenviable record. For a young chap who’s only 24, I think he’s getting himself into more and more serious difficulties.
“He appreciates that there will be imprisonment. He is expecting that.”
Sheriff Anderson added 16 months onto the end of his current period behind bars.
Abused hero medic
A man who was revived from a drug overdose only to unleash a racist tirade at the doctor who saved his life has been jailed for seven months.
Samuel Martin appeared from custody at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court to be sentenced, having previously admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner on March 5 last year.
The 40-year-old, of Hendry’s Wynd in Kirkcaldy, admitted making racially abusive comments towards the medical consultant.
Martin repeatedly used the word “monkey” towards the medical professional when he was receiving treatment at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital.
He also shouted and swore at hospital staff, and threatened to shoot them and their families.
His solicitor David McLaughlin said: “When he was revived he was in an agitated state.
“He has been in and out of prison most of his life.
“He will probably be in and out of prison in future months and future years unless he gets to the bottom of his offending.”
Perv to be sentenced
Forfar pervert Antony O’Hare will be sentenced in June for sex offences. He admitted sending sexual messages to what he thought was a 13-year-old girl but was actually a decoy account set up by a paedophile hunter.
MP trial postponed
The embezzlement trial of Fife-born former MP Natalie McGarry was postponed as her defence counsel is unwell.
McGarry, 40, who represented Glasgow East for the SNP, allegedly stole more than £25,000 from two organisations advocating for Scottish independence between April 2013 and August 2015.
McGarry is said to have embezzled £21,000 while treasurer for Women for Independence (WFI) between April 26, 2013 and November 30, 2015.
A second charge states McGarry took £4,661 between April 9, 2014 and August 10, 2015 when she was treasurer, secretary and convenor of Glasgow Regional Association (GRA) of the SNP.
Some of the money should have gone to Perth and Kinross Foodbank, according to the charges.
McGarry – of Clarkston, East Renfrewshire – denies the charges at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Tom Hughes adjourned until Thursday morning.
Funeral fraud?
Funeral director Barry Stevenson-Hamilton appeared in Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court accused of fraud. The 39-year-old, who has company branches across Fife, is accused of defrauding 52 people by selling pre-paid funeral packages, gaining £170,000. He denies the charge and will return to court in June.
The full caseload of the Dundee Crime and Courts Team can be found here.
