A Fife mum-of-eight attacked a man and told him to stay away from her children because he was a “paedo”.
Hayley Ross carried out the “unprovoked” assault as her victim fixed his motorbike in a garage with a friend in Cardenden.
The man was then attacked by another male, who “burst open” his face with a punch.
Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard Ross then told her victim’s mother she would be next in line for a battering.
Assault
Procurator fiscal depute Laurelle Johnstone told the court Ross approached the man in August two years ago and was shouting words similar to “keep away from my kids, you are a paedo.”
The fiscal depute said: “At this time there was a number of people gathering in the street upon hearing the commotion.
“The accused then approached (the man) and struck him with one hand to the right side of his face, causing him to fall to the ground.
“He got back up at that stage and appeared uninjured.
“At that point another male approached and punched him to the face, causing his face to burst open and at that point the accused is getting pulled away by someone else.”
Admitted crimes
The victim went to his home and told his mother what happened and they went to hospital.
Ms Johnstone continued: “At that point the accused was shouting out at the side of the street, ‘Don’t worry hen, you will be f***ing next’ and ‘shut your mouth or I will leather you as well’.”
Ross admitted striking the man on the head at Carden Castle Avenue, Cardenden, on August 14 2020.
She also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and making offensive remarks to the man and making threats of violence towards his mother.
Maternal instincts ‘kicked in’
Defence lawyer Matthew Super described the incident as “unfortunate” and said his client had reason to be concerned for the safety of children, who she understood were in a man’s garage.
Mr Super said: “Ms Ross advises that at the time she was three months pregnant and due to fear for children’s safety, her maternal instincts kicked in.”
The solicitor said his client acknowledged if she had reasons to fear for their safety she should have waited for the police.
The court heard Ross has no previous convictions.
Sheriff Charles Macnair told her: “This was a wholly unprovoked attack on someone who was working on his motorbike and you then threatened his mother.”
The sheriff ordered her to pay £250 compensation to her victim and to carry out 90 hours of unpaid work.
Ross was also placed on an offender supervision order for six months.
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