A Cowdenbeath man celebrating at his 60th birthday party was punched and knocked unconscious by one of the guests.

The drunken attacker was 29-year-old John Douglas, long-term partner of the victim’s daughter.

Douglas, of Gilmour Street, Cowdenbeath, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on October 15, 2022 at Drylie Street, Cowdenbeath, he assaulted a man by punching him on the head, causing him to fall to the ground, striking his head and causing him to lose consciousness, to his injury.

Depute fiscal Charlotte Allan said the victim of the assault was celebrating his 60th birthday with a party and Douglas was one of the guests.

Initially, “everyone was enjoying the evening” but Douglas “became increasingly aggressive and intoxicated”.

As a result, the victim had a word with Douglas, who left the premises but then tried to get back in again.

The victim then went outside to speak to Douglas and “both of them were shouting at each other”, added the depute.

Douglas then punched the man to the face, knocking him to the ground and he struck his head, losing consciousness.

Douglas then left the scene, the police were called and the victim was taken to hospital for a check-up and was found to have a bump on the back of his head.

Defence solicitor Stephen Morrison said his client had described his own behaviour as “crazy and disgraceful”.

He said Douglas and the victim’s daughter have been in a relationship for 15 years.

“Drink had been taken throughout the day. He knows that is no excuse but it resulted in matters escalating and to his genuine shame, he struck his father-in-law figure,” he added.

Sheriff John MacRitchie pointed out that these “one punch” incidents can result in death and a life sentence for the attacker.

Mr Morrison replied: “One would like to think he has learned his lesson.”

The sheriff went on: “Fortunately, those horrific consequences have not happened in this case.”

He imposed a community payback order with 180 hours of unpaid work.