A NEW YEAR family party ended in violence with a Crossgates woman being attacked by relatives in her own home.

The victim sustained broken ribs after being kicked and punched repeatedly, grabbed by the hair and pulled to the floor.

The woman was attacked by her step-daughter, Veronica Hutton, whose daughter, Brogan Watson, joined in the assault.

Hutton, 42, of Houliston Avenue, Inverkeithing, and Watson, 22, of Rintoul Avenue, Blairhall, were found guilty of two charges after a trial at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

On January 2, last year, at an address in Crossgates, they assaulted the step-mum in her home by seizing her by the hair, forcing her to the ground, punched and kicked her on the head and body repeatedly and stamped on her head and body, all to her severe injury.

They behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing, kicking a door, and repeatedly banging on a window which was smashed.

Sheriff Pino di Emidio told the pair they were fortunate the case was not dealt with under solemn procedure where the sentences available would have been greater.

He commented that there appeared to be “prior animosity” between the parties and that there was “significant consumption of alcohol” at the party before the incident.

Both attackers have previous convictions for violence, he pointed out.

He placed Hutton on a community payback order with 250 hours of unpaid work and one year’s supervision. She was also put on a restriction of liberty order for eight months and told to pay £400 compensation.

Brogan was placed on a community payback order with one year’s supervision and 180 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £400 compensation.