Joiner in the dock following reaction to snowball ‘attack’

A Fife man reacted angrily when his new house “came under attack” from snowballs.

Keir Hardie, 43, heard loud bangs and discovered his en suite was full of snow.

A kitchen window and utility room were also struck by snowballs and Hardie went outside to investigate.

However, his inquiries led to a confrontation with a 14-yearold boy, who was then headbutted.

The self-employed joiner was found guilty of assaulting the teenager on February 23 in Hilton Road, Cowdenbeath, following a trial at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

The boy said he had been walking home from school with three friends when the incident occurred.

He said a man appeared and started asking if they had been throwing snowballs at this house as he had been told they were responsible.

The witness told the court none of his group had been throwing snowballs near the houses.

He described the man, who he identified as the accused, as being “quite angry and distraught”.

Hardie, who now lives in Alva, said: “We had recently moved into a new property.

“I had a shower and left the window open when I went downstairs. I was sitting in the living room watching TV when there was a large bang from upstairs.”

When he went outside another group of youngsters pointed out the victim as being responsible.

Hardie claimed the youngster had been swearing at him when he asked about the snowballs.

He also claimed the boy went to swing a punch at him.

Hardie was fined £200.