AN Inverkeithing High School pupil hit a 12-year-old boy's head off a railing because he was "laughing" at him.

When the 16-year-old, who can't be named for legal reasons, was arrested by police he told them he was "going to stab" the victim and he looked "like a monkey".

The teenager previously admitted that on August 24 last year at Inverkeithing High, Hillend Road, he assaulted a 12-year-old boy and did forcibly strike his head whereby it hit against a metal railing to his injury.

Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard that the victim had been standing with a group of friends at the railings when he was approached by the accused.

He pushed the 12-year-old and he consequently banged his head off the metal railing, causing swelling and bruising to his face.

Photographs of the boy’s injuries were shown to Sheriff Craig McSherry and he was told the boy's mother had to take him to hospital as a result.

When the accused was traced he became aggressive towards police officers and began shouting and swearing.

He told one that they were a "f***ing paedo monkey" and that he hoped they "died" in a car crash.

He also made gestures towards the police.

The teenager was arrested and taken to Dunfermline Police Station and when he was charged he replied: "100 per cent, I am going to stab him" and "he looks like a monkey".

Defence solicitor Barbara Collie said her client was 15 at the time of the incident.

"He tells me the victim was laughing at his expense," she said.

"He asked him if he was alright and he said he was fine.

"He does seem to realise now that his behaviour was unacceptable."

She said her client had no previous convictions.

Sheriff Craig McSherry said: "The complainer was a 12-year-old boy at school. Taking that into account, the injury and the abuse towards police officers, I would certainly consider a custodial sentence."

As an alternative to imprisonment, the sheriff sentenced the teenager to 150 hours of unpaid work and 12 months supervision.