A THUG who sped along the notorious Grange Road before hitting and killing a cyclist has avoided jail.

Stephen McKay (35) ploughed into and killed Brian Taylor (29) who was cycling to work at Stephen's Bakers in Camdean in the early hours.

He initially told police the cyclist had no lights on but road traffic investigators discovered skid marks which proved his silver Rover had skidded across the carriageway.

Mr Taylor died at the scene from multiple injuries.

At Dunfermline Sheriff Court today (Tuesday), Sheriff Craig McSherry sentenced McKay to 240 hours community service.

He was also banned him from driving for 12 months.

In a separate case, plumber McKay was fined for threatening to smash a three-foot metal Toby Key over the head of a customer who was unhappy with the quality of his work.

He was also fined a further £60 for failing to turn up at an earlier court appearance.

Judge Craig McSherry told McKay, "Had you been driving at a speed considered by the police to be reckless you would be facing a charge of reckless driving.

"It is a tragic outcome of the for the family of the deceased but I'm not persuaded that the level of carelessness is such as to merit a sentence of imprisonment."