A 16-YEAR-OLD boy hit a young man with a stone at Dunfermline Bus Station with the victim taken to hospital for his injuries

Prior to the attack, there had been an altercation between the two at Dunfermline Abbey.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, previously admitted that on July 11 at the abbey, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear or alarm by brandishing a bottle and threatening violence.

He also admitted at the bus station, Queen Anne Street, he assaulted a man and struck him on the head with a piece of masonry to his injury.

Depute fiscal Carrie Stevens told Dunfermline Sheriff Court that at about 7pm on July 11, the complainer had been walking near the abbey when there was exchange of words between the two parties.

They then went their separate ways.

"Shortly after, near Tesco car park, the complainer walked up to the accused, punched him, then ran away," Ms Stevens said.

"The accused went to the bus station and when he saw the complainer, he hit him on the back of the head with a bit of stone he had picked up.

"There was blood coming from the complainer’s head."

The victim was taken to hospital for a cut to the rear of his head but did not require much treatment.

The accused was later found by police on Douglas Street at 10.15pm.

Defence solicitor Brian Allison said: "It is accepted by the crown that my client had been assaulted by the complainer shortly before the incident.

"He did not seek out the complainer, it was a chance encounter."

Sheriff Craig McSherry sentenced the teenager to a community payback order with an 18 month supervision requirement.

He said: "Given the fact that you used a weapon, this sentence is a direct alternative to custody."