A man tried to stab another in the neck with a broken Buckfast bottle, then was caught when he tried to have his victim arrested for fighting back.
Jason Devennie was left needing stiches after being attacked by Andrew Smith in broad daylight in Kirkcaldy following an argument on the street.
Mr Devennie had a fractured cheek and eye socket and Smith was treated as the aggressor when police investigated at his own request.
Smacked Buckfast bottle on head
Fiscal depute Douglas Thomson told Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court: “A neighbour asked the complainer (Mr Devennie) to help him with his car.
“He agreed to help and went outside with his toolbox.
“An argument developed for reasons unknown to the Crown.
“At this point, the accused ran towards the complainer with a bottle of Buckfast in his hand.
“The accused hit the complainer on the right side of his head whilst his back was to him, which caused the bottle to smash.
“With the bottle smashed, the accused attempted to stab Jason Devennie in the neck with the broken bottle.
“The first stab connected with the complainers neck but the second did not.”
Victim fights back
Mr Thompson said heavily bleeding Mr Devennie fought back.
“At this point, the complainer struck the accused with a metal bar, causing a head wound to the accused.
“There was a brief stand-off in the street between all the males, before the complainer escaped and entered his flat.
“He was seen to be bleeding heavily from the head and neck.”
Mr Thompson said Mr Devennie did not call police but attempted to stop the flow of blood himself.
Police responded because Smith contacted them to say he had been injured by Mr Devennie.
Mr Thompson continued: “Officers attended at Westwood Avenue and Jason Devennie approached them and told them he had been assaulted.
“Police saw the complainer was bleeding heavily and had significant marks around his face and neck.”
Mr Devennie was taken to hospital, where he was treated for cuts to his head and neck, with the head wounds requiring stitches.
He was also found to have a fractured eye socket and cheekbone.
The incident was filmed on someone’s phone and circulated on social media.
On being charged by police, Smith stated: “I want him charged for putting the gash on the back of my head.”
‘Obvious risk’
Smith, a prisoner at Perth, admitted assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger to life on Westwood Avenue, Kirkcaldy, on September 10 last year.
Solicitor Kerr Sneddon, defending, said his client recognised his behaviour was “inexcusable” and said he was under the influence of alcohol and Valium at the time.
He said: “He was suitably shocked when I showed him the mobile phone footage.
“He knows his behaviour was inexcusable.
“The injuries could have been a lot worse – it was only scratches to the neck, which did not require stitches.”
However, sheriff Alastair Brown said targeting someone’s neck with a broken bottle presented an “obvious risk”.
He deferred sentence until next month for reports
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