A MAN’S jaw was broken in two places when he was attacked on a night out in Dunfermline town centre.

The victim was standing outside a pub when he was approached from behind and punched twice.

Murray McManus, 29, of Menteith Drive, Dunfermline, admitted carrying out the attack when he appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on October 9 last year in Guildhall Street, he assaulted his victim by repeatedly punching him on the head, causing him to fall to the ground to his severe injury.

The court was told the victim and McManus were not known to each other and the incident occurred at around 1am.

The complainer had been on a night out with friends and was in Monty’s Bar when he went outside for a smoke.

The door staff would not allow him back into the pub and as he remonstrated with them, the town centre CCTV cameras caught McManus walking past and going to a nearby cash machine.

He then walked back down Guildhall Street, approached the victim and punched him twice from behind. The man fell to the ground and began spitting out blood as McManus walked away calmly.

The victim’s jaw was broken in two places and he required surgery to have two plates and 16 screws inserted.

Defence solicitor Jenny Simpson said her client was a self-employed joiner who was going through a difficult time in his personal life when the offence occurred.

“He had consumed alcohol and had also taken cocaine. He had encountered the man in another pub and there had been some words exchanged. He’s very sorry for his actions and he’s not been out in the town since,” said Ms Simpson.

Sheriff Craig McSherry called for reports and granted bail “with some reluctance”. McManus will be sentenced on June 27.