A man was badly injured after he was punched outside a Dunfermline nightclub.

The victim fell to the ground, banged his head, cutting it and also broke his ankle as he went down.

The attacker was 22-year-old Kieron McCole, of St Peter’s Court, Inverkeithing, who has appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on January 7 at Life nightclub, Kirkgate, he assaulted a man by punching him on the head to his injury.

Depute fiscal Christine Allan said the incident took place at 2.45am in a smoking area outside the nightclub.

McCole had walked behind the man and punched him causing him to fall backwards, banging his head on the ground.

Police were called to the scene and found the victim on the ground surrounded by a significant amount of blood. He was taken to hospital and it was found he had sustained a broken ankle as he fell.

Defence solicitor Alexander Flett conceded his client has three previous convictions for assault.

He went on: “He’s very remorseful and accepts he shouldn’t have lashed out in the way he did. Consumption of alcohol was a significant factor. There was an exchange of words between the two of them and he lashed out.”

Sheriff Francis Gill told McCole: “Being under the influence of alcohol is no excuse.”

He imposed a community payback order with 110 hours of unpaid work and nine months of supervision.