Thug hit pensioner after binge drinking

ASSAULT: Man drank bottle of whisky and two bottles of Buckfast

A Fife man who drank a bottle of whisky and two bottles of Buckfast then punched a 73-year-old neighbour has been jailed.

John Young, 34, formerly of Kirktoun Street, Ballingry and more recently living and working on the Isle of Skye, said afterwards he could remember nothing of the incident.

At Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Young admitted that on October 30 at Kirktoun Gardens, Ballingry, he assaulted David Gibson, then 73, by punching him on the head, causing him to fall to the ground, to his injury. He also admitted struggling violently with three police officers and refusing to be handcuffed.

Depute fiscal Sarah Lumsden said Mr Gibson was in his home at around 4pm when he heard shouting from the rear of his property.

“He went to the back door and observed the accused. Mr Gibson then became aware of a dog entering his property and the accused was looking for a dog. He informed the accused that the dog had gone into his house.

“When the accused came into his garden Mr Gibson could see he was under the influence of alcohol and at that point he no longer wished him to be in his property and attempted to usher him from there.”

Young then began acting aggressively and went around to the front of Mr Gibson’s house and stood at the gate.

A neighbour looked out and saw Young. “She saw him acting very aggressively and went outside to see what was going on.

“She saw the accused take off his jersey and walk towards Mr Gibson, who was now in his front garden, at his gate.

“The accused punched Mr Gibson on the head and caused him to fall to the ground.”

The neighbour heard Mr Gibson shouting for help and saw his face was covered with blood, added Ms Lumsden. Mr Gibson sustained a cut lip and scratches to his nose.

Police were called and when officers arrived they saw Young naked from the waist up in his own garden and pointing at the police vehicle.

He climbed over a fence, approached officers and a violent struggle ensued when they tried to put handcuffs on him.

Young later told police: “I can remember nothing.”

This was reiterated by defence agent Yoshni Joshi, who said her client had consumed a bottle of whisky and two bottles of Buckfast before the assault.

Sheriff Charles Macnair told Young he had a “pretty deplorable record, mostly for dishonesty but also for violence”.

He jailed Young for 250 days.

She saw the accused take off his jersey and walk towards Mr Gibson, who was now in his front garden, at his gate. The accused punched Mr Gibson on the head and caused him to fall to the ground. SARAH LUMSDEN