A DUNFERMLINE teenager smashed a man on the head with a bottle – leaving a gash so deep it exposed the victim's skull – when he saw red at people laughing at him.

The 17-year-old, who left university to join an asset management company as a trainee, flew into a rage after spilling a drink over himself and being mocked in front of his friends in Blairgowrie.

At Perth Sheriff Court, he was placed under social work supervision for a year and ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work.

Fiscal depute Mairi Graham said the accused and others approached the victim and his friend and started speaking to them.

"They could see the accused holding a glass bottle in his right hand," she said.

"The accused spilled the contents over himself and all of the witnesses laughed.

"The accused took a dislike to the complainer laughing at him and hit him over the head with the bottle he was carrying.

"A scuffle began between the accused and the complainer but this was broken up. A doctor treated the complainer for a three centimetre wound.

"The cut was deep enough to expose the skull. He needed five sutures and it was confirmed it would leave a scar."

The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, admitted attacking an 18-year-old man by hitting him on the head with a bottle and injuring and disfiguring him in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, on November 22 last year.

Solicitor Pauline Cullerton, defending, said: "If he could go back in time and change things he would. He would wish to offer an apology to the complainer.

"He has left university and is now in employment. Alcohol had been consumed by all of the parties. He accepts responsibility for what he did.

"He felt humiliated in front of his peers, saw red and lost control, and hit the complainer with the bottle in his hand."

Sheriff Christopher Shead said: "You know perfectly well you cannot conduct yourself in this way and the court takes a serious view of the matter."