An assault victim who suffered a broken jaw has been told he was the author of his own downfall.
Sheriff James Williamson refused to award compensation to Lewis Vine after he was punched in the face by Stuart Greens during an argument at a Halloween party.
Greens punched Mr Vine once in the face, knocking him to the ground and detaching his jaw, leaving him unable to eat solid food for six weeks.
Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard it was Mr Vine who was the aggressor and squared up to the accused before he was punched.
Depute Fiscal Susan Dickson said the two became embroiled in the argument after a girl Mr Vine liked was asked to leave the party.
She described how Mr Vine walked up to the accused in an assertive and aggressive manner.
She said: “The accused punched Mr Vine once to the face causing Mr Vine to fall to the ground.
“Mr Green apologised to him on a number of occasions.”
Ms Dickson described how Mr Vine discovered he was badly hurt when he tried to remove the blood from his mouth.
She said: “The lower left part of his jaw was pointing towards his tongue. The lower left mandible had become separated, become detached.”
Mr Vine was taken to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, where he had a metal plate, screws and wire inserted into his mouth.
She added Greens said: “He came right up to me. It was like he was going to go for me so I hit him.”
Sheriff Williamson said: “I would not be prepared to award compensation for a man who is essentially the author of his own misfortune.”
He added given the background, circumstances of events, involvement of the complainer and the age and otherwise good behaviour of the accused, he did not see compensation as an appropriate punishment.
Greens, 18, of Southerton Crescent, Kirkcaldy, admitted that on November 3 2013 on Macindoe Crescent, Kirkcaldy, he assaulted Lewis Vine by punching him on the head, causing him to fall to the ground, all to his severe injury.
Sheriff Williamson deferred sentence for six months for good behaviour.