A man has admitted stabbing his friend’s face after being arrested for a completely different offence the following day.
Perth Prison inmate James Marshall appeared from custody to plead guilty to charges of assault and sexual assault dating back to November 2020.
The 25-year-old admitted striking Ryan Ure on the head with a knife at a property on Factory Road on November 15.
He also pled guilty to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl the following day at nearby Lawrence Court.
Pre-emptive face stab
Marshall punctured Mr Ure’s face with a blade after an argument about a missing e-cigarette and mobile phone.
At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, fiscal depute Claire Bremner said the pair were “acquaintances” and at another person’s house at around 8.30pm.
Mr Ure had the e-cigarette and phone when he arrived and confronted Marshall when he noticed they were missing.
Expecting Mr Ure to “kick off”, Marshall struck him in the face with a Stanley blade, Ms Bremner added.
An hour later, Mr Ure’s grandmother contacted police.
He had a puncture wound to the left side of his face and an injured hand.
He told police it was from punching the knifeman but refused to reveal Marshall’s identity.
Contacted teenage girl
The following morning, Marshall sent a friend request on Facebook to the 15-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Ms Bremner said they had met at a party previously.
The pair began messaging about their plans for the day.
He asked if she would be drinking and they agreed to meet later in the day.
Marshall went to a property in Buckhaven with others, including the girl, at around 11.30am.
He brought a bottle of vodka and a can of Dragon Soop and over the course of the day, became intoxicated.
Marshall bragged to the girl and others about stabbing a man the night before.
Sexual assault
Later in the day, Marshall and the teenager left the property and at Lawrence Court, he sexually assaulted her.
He seized her left arm and placed his hands inside the waistband of her jeans.
Both of his hands were inside her underwear and near her hip bone and she had to drop to her knees to wriggle free.
She was later reported as missing and returning home with police, disclosed what had happened.
When Marshall was arrested, he asked police: “Is this about the Ryan Ure thing?”
He denied the offence initially but pled guilty in court.
He also admitted sexually assaulting the girl.
Reconciled with stab victim
Defence solicitor Martin McGuire said Marshall and Mr Ure were back on terms after spending time in custody together.
Marshall has been on remand for almost a year.
He said: “He appreciates this will result in periods of being imprisoned.
“Mr Ure is a friend of Mr Marshall’s.
“They frequently consume alcohol and other substances together.”
He said Marshall has “very limited recollection” of the sexual assault but accepts it took place.
Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane deferred sentencing until November 11 for reports.
She also placed him on the Sex Offenders Register.
