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Former Countdown champion attacked Fife supermarket worker with wine bottle after she criticised his writing

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A former Countdown champion travelled to Glenrothes to attack a teenager who criticised his online book.

Richard Brittain made the journey from England to attack Paige Rolland, 18, at the Asda store in Glenrothes where she worked.

The 28-year-old, who was crowned Countdown champion in 2006, attacked her from behind with a wine bottle, knocking her out.

He tracked her down using Facebook after she left comments about his online book The World Rose, which he had published on a website called Wattpad.

A month before the attack, Brittain stalked a university classmate, Ella Durant, who moved from London to Glasgow.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday, Brittain admitted assaulting Ms Rolland with a bottle to her severe injury on October 3, 2014 at Asda, Fullerton Road, Glenrothes.

He also pled guilty to engaging in a course of conduct which caused Ms Durant fear or alarm by repeatedly pursuing her, approaching her, following her and publishing a story about stalking her in September 2014.

Depute fiscal Harry Findlay said Ms Rolland was assaulted while kneeling down at the cereal aisle.

He said: “While doing so, the accused approached without warning, any provocation or words and he struck the complainer on the back of the head with the bottle.

“One blow. It made contact and the wound bled immediately and she had a moment of unconsciousness.”

He was traced by the police and his house was searched which revealed travel documents and evidence he had been in Glasgow on an earlier date.

Defence counsel Michael Meehan told the court that in relation to a message from Brittain to Ms Rolland after she criticised his work, his client pointed out she had not read the published version and asked her to remove her comments.

The court was told he also contacted her in September this year with an apologetic message.

Sheriff Martin Jones QC deferred sentence until a later date for a number of reports and a motion for bail was refused.