A Lochgelly man who carried out a “cruel, violent, vicious attack” on his wife has avoided jail for now.
Heroin addict Walter Marshall dragged his wife by her hair and punched her in the face in front of horrified onlookers.
A shocked householder witnessed the daytime assault in front of her window and police were called.
Marshall, 37, of Shaw Crescent, admitted that on January 10 in Church Street, Lochgelly, he assaulted Sharon Connor, dragged her by the hair, pulled her hair and punched her three times to the face to her injury.
He also admitted stealing alcohol and food from Co-op stores on Bank Street and North Street in the town on January 4, 6 and 10.
Depute fiscal Kyrsten Buist told Dunfermline Sheriff Court that clumps of hair were found in the street by police and the woman sustained a large lump on her forehead, swollen eyes and a swollen, bleeding nose.
Defence solicitor Victoria Blankenstein said her client could not remember anything about the incident and was “absolutely mortified”.
She said his heroin use had spiralled out of control.
Sheriff Michael Anderson told Marshall: “This was a cruel, violent, vicious attack. Ordinarily you would go to jail but your wife seems to accept it was out of character.”
He did not rule out a custodial sentence but called for reports including a drugs treatment and testing order assessment.
Marshall will return to court for sentencing on March 25.