A 25-YEAR-OLD Blairhall man has avoided a jail sentence for a double attack at a Dunfermline hot food takeaway left the victim severely injured.

The incident happened on January 6 at the Istanbul takeaway in Guildhall Street when the victim was punched and later head-butted in an unprovoked assault.

In the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court was James McNab, of Rintoul Avenue.

He previously admitted assaulting his victim by punching him on the face, seizing him by his clothing and butting him on the head, all to his severe injury.

Depute fiscal Ron Hay said the incident occurred at around 2am when the victim had been standing at the counter of the takeaway with three friends waiting for their food order.

McNab, who was intoxicated, said to them: “What are you looking at?”

He was told nobody was looking at him and the complainer and a friend went to stand just outside the door.

McNab followed them outside and punched the victim once on the face.

“He fell backwards and began to spit blood from his mouth,” added Mr Hay.

The victim went back inside the shop to get his food and was assaulted again.

“Initially, the accused approached and hugged him but then he grabbed his top and head-butted him,” added the depute. “The accused left and a staff member locked the door to stop him from coming back in.”

Shortly after he returned home that night, the victim received a Facebook friend request from McNab who then sent a message apologising for what he had done.

The victim later went to hospital and it was discovered his jaw was broken in two places, which required surgery with plates and screws inserted.

Defence solicitor Sarah Meehan said her client had a “hazy recollection of events” because of the amount of alcohol he had consumed that night.

“He’s extremely ashamed of his behaviour,” she added.

Sheriff Craig McSherry imposed a community payback order with 200 hours of unpaid work. He also ordered McNab to pay the victim £3,000 compensation.