Thug attacked same victim twice in High Street
A thug punched someone who was trying to act as peacekeeper during a late night argument in Dunfermline last weekend.
Paul Sheerin left the scene when he saw police officers but returned shortly afterwards and launched a second vicious attack on the same victim.
Sheerin (21), of the James Bank Hostel, James Street, appeared from custody at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
He admitted that on 27th August at Dunfermline High Street he assaulted a man by repeatedly punching him on the head, causing him to fall to the ground to his injury.
Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said the victim had been having a night out with friends in Dunfermline.
At around 2.30am he and friend left a bar and walked up Guildhall Street and were waiting for others to catch them up in the High Street.
“He recalls his friend having an argument with the accused. He intervened and he told the accused to go away,” said Ms Yousaf.
Sheerin started shouting at the victim and then began punching him. He stopped and left the area when he saw police officers.
However, ten minutes he returned and resumed his assault on the victim. “He fell to the ground and his eye was cut,” added the depute.
The victim required eight stitches and three paper stitches to his eye wound.
The incident was caught on CCTV and Sheerin was later detained.
In May, Sheerin was jailed for three months after failing to complete a community payback order. He was released from that sentence on 7th July.
Defence solicitor Stephen Morrison said, “He has an issue with alcohol. He admits he behaved in an idiotic and unacceptable fashion.
“He was walking by, something was said by a friend of the complainer.” He added that it was accepted that the victim was “trying to keep the peace.”
Sheriff Charles MacNair said, “This was a wholly unprovoked and sustained assault.” He jailed Sheerin for six months.
