Countdown to violence at Cowdenbeath house party

A Cowdenbeath man repeatedly punched a house guest who tried to act as a peacemaker during an argument.

Allan Haddow, 35, of Glenfarg Crescent, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on October 9, at his home, he assaulted a man by repeatedly punching him on the head and body, threw a mirror at him causing it to smash on contact, and seized him by the clothing, to his injury.

Depute fiscal Alex Kirk said the accused was at home and had been drinking with a woman and others. At around 1.30am they were all drinking when the accused and the woman got into an argument.

The court heard she told the complainer she wanted to leave.

They did so together and returned at 2.50am when she went to get some of her things.

Again there was an argument and the complainer got in between them. At this the accused told him: “You’ve got five seconds to leave”.

The complainer said he was going to get his mobile phone and the accused started counting down from five.

He then lunged at him, punching him to the head, causing injury.

There was then another argument with the woman and the complainer again got in the middle.

Again the accused started counting down from five. He then grabbed a mirror from the wall and threw it at the complainer.

“It struck him on the head, again causing injury.

“Again he began counting down from five before he lunged at him again punching him several times to the face,” the court heard.

Haddow will be sentenced on January 17.