Woman attacked by Lochore man was a complete stranger

The perpetrator was 26-year-old Connor McLean, who appeared before Dunfermline Sheriff Court to be sentenced for his attack on a complete stranger.

McLean, of Waverley Place, Lochore, punched the woman twice in the face, causing cuts and knocking her to the ground.

He admitted assaulting a woman at Lochore Miners Welfare in Lochleven Road on December 17 last year by repeatedly striking her on the head, causing injury.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Laura McManus said McLean became increasingly combative throughout the evening and finally approached the woman at 1 a.m. as they both stood outside.

They talked briefly before he punched her twice in the eye, causing her to fall to the ground and hit her head. Then he ran away.

The victim lay on the ground for several minutes, suffering significant bruising and swelling, a cut near her eyebrow and an injury to the back of her head.

Defence lawyer Amy Harley said: “His explanation is that he was on his Christmas trip and consumed a lot of alcohol.

“He doesn’t remember much about it. They didn’t know each other.”

She said McLean had not drunk alcohol since the incident.

Sheriff Craig McSherry imposed a community fine of 180 hours of unpaid work.