A grandfather at the forefront of the fight against crime in his community has been stabbed by a fellow resident of his sheltered housing complex.
Dick Jones, chairman of Glenrothes Neighbourhood Safety Group, was stabbed on Friday at the Fife Council-run Burgh House where he lives in Leslie.
Mr Jones, 69, who was attacked by a 72-year-old man, underwent emergency surgery at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy for a knife wound to his abdomen.
He underwent exploratory surgery to assess the extent of his injury.
However, it is understood there are no concerns the injury is life threatening.
Police confirmed a report had been sent to the procurator fiscal.
However, Mr Jones’s family are demanding an investigation by the Care Inspectorate after it emerged police had been unable to interview or charge the alleged perpetrator because of mental health issues.
It is understood the alleged perpetrator has since been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
Mr Jones’s ex-wife, former Kirkcaldy District Council leader and retired Madras College art teacher Wilma Grant, said: “It begs the question why was someone with an apparent history of mental health problems allowed to be living in the complex?
“My ex-hubby was sitting in the communal lounge next to a disabled guy in a wheelchair at the time, around the back of 11am.
“This other guy came in. I don’t know if they had a disagreement, but the guy went away to his flat, came back with a knife and stabbed him.
“He sustained three stab wounds. Two were superficial. One was causing concern.
“They repaired his bowel. He’s now comfortable in hospital but is very shaken.”
Ms Grant said detectives were in taking a statement from him on Saturday.
Mr Jones, who divorced in 1994, is well known in Glenrothes and is regarded as “very community minded”.
He is volunteered with the YMCA in Glenrothes and won a police award a few years ago for unsung heroes. He was health and safety manager for Smith Anderson.
Mr Jones’s daughter, Louise, a mother of one, said: “We are really shocked this could happen in sheltered housing by one of the fellow residents.”
A police spokesman said: “A 72-year-old man has been reported to the procurator fiscal following a serious assault on a 69-year-old man at a sheltered accommodation facility in Leslie on Friday December 26.”
Fife Council head of housing John Mills said: “The care and safety of service users is our first priority and we’ll cooperate fully with any investigation.”
Burgh House in Leslie comprises 15 independent living flats with a communal recreation and dining area. It is managed by non-resident staff.