A family dispute escalated into a violent assault in which the victim was knocked out and required hospital treatment.
James Heard, 29, of Spittalfield Crescent, Inverkeithing, admitted that on December 23 last year, at his mum’s home in the same street, he assaulted Gordon Galloway.
He grabbed him by the throat, repeatedly punched him on the head, brandished a knife at him, threatened to stab him, knocked him to the ground whereby he struck his head and lost consciousness, all to his injury and permanent disfigurement.
Depute fiscal Claire Bremner said the victim of the assault was the partner of Heard’s mother. All three had been drinking in the Burgh Arms that night.
His mother left to go home and Heard remained in the bar continuing to drink with Mr Galloway.
They later returned to the home of Heard’s mother. Heard began shouting and swearing and accused Mr Galloway of “taking the p***” out of his mum.
Heard grabbed him by the throat and despite his mother’s attempts to intervene he repeatedly punched Mr Galloway on the face and head.
He then picked up a kitchen knife and said: “I’ll stick you with this thing.”
Mr Galloway, 53, hit his head on an open drawer during the altercation and was knocked out. He was taken to Victoria Hospital with severe bruising to both eyes and a cut which required stitches.
Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said of his client: “He’s horrified by what took place. They had a reasonable relationship before this and had been out drinking that day.”
Sheriff Charles MacNair called for reports and Heard will be sentenced on June 28.