A MAN was left fighting for his life after being stabbed during a street fight in the early hours of the morning, Dunfermline Sheriff Court has heard.

The victim received knife wounds to his head and body including one which pierced his abdomen, liver and caused internal bleeding, during the incident in Oakley.

A sheriff told Lee Hutton he was lucky not to be facing a murder charge.

Hutton, 32, of Townhill Road, Dunfermline, admitted that on January 24 at John Stuart Gait, Oakley, he assaulted a man by repeatedly punching him on the head and repeatedly striking him on the head and body with a knife, all to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life.

Depute fiscal Ron Hay told the court that the victim had previously been in a relationship with a woman and they had two children together.

The woman then was in a relationship with Hutton and she described him as being “jealous” of her having any contact with her previous partner.

At 1.20am, residents in the area became aware of the sound of two males arguing in the street, initially shouting at each other.

A neighbour then saw the two men begin punching each other, back off, then start punching each other again.

Another neighbour shouted out to the street telling them to “Stop it and get home” but the two carried on fighting, said the depute.

Towards the end of the fight, Mr Morgan was seen to punch the complainer several times and then grab his head, striking it against the ground.

The two of them then separated and a neighbour heard the complainer say: “You stabbed me, you b******”.

Another witness heard Hutton say: “You’ve got your blood on me.” He then said to the victim: “You better sit down.”

A neighbour saw Hutton put up his hand and there was an object held in it which they thought was a knife.

The complainer said to a local resident who came out of their home: “He stabbed me. You’ll have to help me.” This neighbour placed a towel on the victim’s stomach and called 999.

“(the complainer) sustained a stab wound to his abdomen which penetrated his liver and nicked his stomach,” said Mr Hay. “An artery was also hit which caused internal bleeding which required to be drained.”

The victim also sustained an 8cm cut to his head and further wounds to his arm and torso. One of the stab wounds required 25 staples and another needed four staples.

Hutton also suffered injuries including a broken ankle, which required an operation.

Sheriff Charles Macnair said of Hutton’s actions: “He could have walked away at any time. He chose to get involved in a fight and more importantly, he chose to take a knife to that fight and he chose to use it.

“He’s extraordinarily fortunate that he’s not facing a charge of murder.”

The sheriff called for reports and refused to continue bail. Hutton was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on October 11.