Victim faces £7k dental bill after street assault

A “peacemaker”, who had teeth knocked out when punched outside a Dunfermline nightclub, requires £7000-worth of dental work.

The assailant was 19-year-old Alexander McNair, who is currently unemployed and was so drunk he cannot remember the incident outside Life nightclub.

McNair was back at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for sentencing after information had been requested on the cost of the damage caused.

McNair had already been put out of the club when he charged at the door trying to get back in. When a man tried to calm him down he was punched and had two teeth knocked out.

McNair, of Bennachie Way, Dunfermline, admitted that on 12th November last year at Kirkgate, he assaulted a man by punching him on the head to his injury.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf previously told the court that McNair had been in a group of people who had been ejected from Life nightclub at 1am.

The complainer had not been ejected but went outside trying to act as a “peacemaker”, added the depute.

“He saw the accused charging at the door and stood in front of him. He put his hands on his chest to calm him down,” said Ms Yousaf.

“He was then punched once on the face and the accused walked off.”

The incident was captured on the town centre CCTV system and an operator contacted the police.

When officers arrived at the scene they found the victim with blood coming from his mouth and two lower teeth missing.

Defence solicitor Russel McPhate said, “He had been out with friends and there had been some issue involving the group he was with.

“They left the club and he decided to go back in as the issue had not involved him.”

The solicitor said his client had no recollection of the events but had seen the CCTV images of what had happened.

Mr McPhate queried the cost of the repairs, put at £3500 a tooth. He said his client was unemployed but trying to find work as a chef and had a trial with a local business.

Sheriff Derek Reekie said, “It does seem a lot of money. Any sort of compensation is not going to scratch the surface.”

Sheriff Craig McSherry had previously said he wanted to find out more about the extent of the injury caused and the cost of any dental work required as a result.

He pointed out McNair could have been facing a more serious charge involving permanent disfigurement.

Sheriff Reekie decided to defer sentence again until 3rd August to see if McNair could find a job.