A DUNFERMLINE man who found his unpaid work boring as he had to "sit there and do nothing" had his punishment replaced with a hefty fine this week.

Appearing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for a community payback order review on Wednesday, Dean Steward said he had only turned up to one day of his unpaid work because he didn't enjoy it and it meant he didn't get to spend the day with his family.

The court heard special efforts had been made to arrange the placement at Furniture Plus as Steward worked nights Sunday to Friday.

However, he was brought back to court because of his poor attendance.

Representing himself, Steward, 29, said he had expected more from the placement and had childcare commitments as his partner worked on a Saturday. 

"It was just selling. I had to sit there and do nothing. It was not a work placement for me," he said.

"I only get to see my family one day a week and I was sitting at the furniture place doing nothing."

He said he hadn't been in touch with the social work department to inform them of his feelings as he contracted severe tonsillitis for two weeks after his first day's attendance and was unable to talk.

Steward had originally been placed on the community payback order which included the unpaid work after he had pleaded guilty to a charge that on December 10 last year, he assaulted a woman and pushed her on the body at Kennedy Crescent.

At Dunfermline Police Office on the same day, he also assaulted two police officers in execution of their duty when he kicked them on the body.

Sheriff Derek Reekie acknowledged the efforts made by the social work department to find the placement.

"You knew you would have difficulty with unpaid work during the week and they identified this job placement on a Saturday," he said.

"It is not for you to decide what the most convenient sentence is. One of the options is I can make you complete this order but I think that may be just more trouble than it is worth."

He fined Steward a total of £1,200.