A FORMER couple decided to have night out together but the re-union ended in violence.

John Spears, 52, of Glen Nevis Drive, Dunfermline, attacked his ex-partner, punching her in the face five times.

He appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court where he admitted that on June 17 at his home he assaulted the woman by pushing her, causing her to strike the kitchen counter, and repeatedly punched her on the head, all to her injury.

Depute fiscal Jade Doig said the couple had been in a relationship which ended in March but they remained friends and on this occasion had a night out together.

She said: “At 1am an argument started and the complainer was pushed against the kitchen counter. She cut her ankle in this incident and pushed him back.”

Spears began shouting at the woman, calling her a “slut” and punched her five times on her right eye.

“She managed to run up the stairs, he followed her up and she contacted the police,” added the depute. “Officers could see clear bruising to her right eye.”

Defence solicitor Sarah Meehan said her client was a first offender.

“They had been out for a meal and went back to his home. Both of them had consumed alcohol. There was an argument and this escalated out of control,” she added.

“He accepts he punched her but his recollection is that he thought it was not as much as five times.

“He’s embarrassed and ashamed to find himself in this position.”

Sheriff Charles MacNair imposed a community payback order with 170 hours of unpaid work and Spears was told to pay the victim £400 compensation.