An accusation of a man staring down a woman’s dress in a Dunfermline bar led to a violent double assault.
Gavin Sullivan, 22, of Carlingnose Way, North Queensferry, admitted assaulting Richard Gibney by headbutting him on the head to his injury and permanent disfigurement at the Citzen Bar in Bruce Street on May 9 last year.
Co-accused Sam Baxter, 27, of Sherbrooke Road, Rosyth, admitted assaulting the same man by punching him on the head causing him to fall to the ground and lose consciousness.
Depute fiscal Claire Bremner said Baxter, Sullivan and a group of friends had been out drinking in Dunfermline pubs from midday.
At around 10.50pm Mr Gibney was seen arguing with some females and was told “not to stare at their figures” continued the depute. One of the women felt the complainer had been staring down her top.
At around 11.30pm words were exchanged between Baxter and the complainer as the group were leaving.
Sullivan went back inside and lunged towards Mr Gibney, headbutting him and knocking him back on to a table.
As he was being helped by staff, Baxter then went back inside and punched Mr Gibney on the side of the head. He fell backwards and lay unconscious on the floor surrounded by blood.
The two assailants were then seen “celebrating” their actions outside.
Mr Gibney was taken to the Victoria Hospital where he required stitches for a wound and was kept in overnight for observation.
James Moncrieff, solicitor for Baxter, said his client was “remorseful” and accepted he “sucker punched” the complainer.
Jenny Simpson, solicitor for Sullivan, said her client was also “very remorseful”.
Sheriff Charles MacNair sentenced both men to 225 hours of unpaid work and a restriction of liberty order for three months. Both were also ordered to pay £500 compensation to the victim.