An incident outside a kebab shop in Dunfermline town centre has led to a community payback sentence for a Fife man.
Richard McQueen, 31, of Broom Crescent, Leven, had previously admitted carrying out an attack under provocation.
He admitted that on November 8 2014 in Douglas Street, Dunfermline, he assaulted Darren Seath by kicking him on the body.
McQueen reacted after an ongoing incident involving two groups during a night out.
Defence solicitor Alexander Flett told the court: “This was quite a long incident.
“There was 40 minutes of to-ing and fro-ing as he intervened to try to get his friend up the road.”
During his previous appearance in court, depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said that the complainer had been out drinking and came across a group, which had included McQueen.
“There was to-ing and fro-ing going on for the best part of the evening from pub to pub and then to a kebab shop,” she then continued.
“The complainer came out of the kebab shop and saw his friend on the ground apparently unconscious and formed the opinion the accused had something to do with it”.
He then took off his shirt and followed the accused up Guildhall Street and along the High Street.
At that point McQueen was trying to get away when the complainer attempted to hit him.
He fell to the ground and was kicked twice on the body.
The incident was captured by CCTV cameras which resulted in McQueen being charged.
Sentencing, Sheriff Charles MacNair said: “There was provocation here.
“However, kicking somebody when they are on the ground is always going to be a matter of considerable concern.”
The sheriff pointed out to McQueen that this offence had come just a week after he had been convicted of another assault in Dundee.
Sheriff MacNair imposed a community payback order with 180 hours of unpaid work.
