Unpaid work for violent assault

A man who repeatedly punched a party-goer on the head as he lay on the ground has been ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.

Kyle Brown appeared for sentencing at Livingston Sheriff Court after earlier pleading guilty to punching his victim on the head, causing him to fall before repeatedly punching him on the head as he lay there near a house at Strathryre Drive in Stoneyburn in August 2015.

The court heard Kyle ( 22), of Meadow Drive in Stoneyburn, had been at a party but had been asked to leave because of his behaviour. He moved outside and a fight started before Kyle punched his victim.

Kyle’s solicitor, Kate Fabian, said her client was “extremely ashamed” by his behaviour.

She said: “Mr Brown and his friends had been at a party and another group of boys attended who were known to them, drink was involved and there was hostility.

“Mr Brown allowed his temper to get the better of him and acted in a completely unacceptable way and he has taken responsibility for that.”

Sheriff Martin Edington imposed a community payback order with 162 hours of unpaid work to be completed in 12 months.

He said: “This is not your first offence and it is a serious matter, particularly given the injury that was occasioned.

“Having said that I accept what is an otherwise good social work inquiry report so I am not going to send you to prison on this occasion.”