A COWDENBEATH man who repeatedly punched a house guest has appeared in court.

An argument flared between Allan Haddow and his partner during a drinking session with others.

When another male tried to get in between them to calm things down, he was punched several times and had a mirror smashed over his head.

Haddow, 35, of Glenfarg Crescent, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on October 9, at his home, he assaulted the complainer by repeatedly punching him on the head and body, threw a mirror at him, causing it to smash on contact, and seized him by the clothing, all to his injury.

Depute fiscal Alex Kirk previously told the court: “The accused was at home and he’d been drinking with his partner and others. At around 1.30am, they were all drinking when the accused and his partner got into an argument.

“She said to her friend (the complainer) that she wanted to leave. They did so together and returned at around 2.50am when she went in to get some of her things. Again, there was an argument and the complainer got in between them.

“At this the accused told him: ‘You’ve got five seconds to leave.’ (the complainer) said he was going to get his mobile phone and the accused started counting down from five.

“He then lunged at him, punching him to the head causing injury.

“There was then another argument with his partner and the complainer again got in the middle. Again, the accused started counting down from five. He then grabbed a mirror from the wall and threw it at the complainer.

“It struck him on the head, again causing injury. Again, he began counting down from five before he lunged at him again, punching him several times to the face. He grabbed his tee-shirt, ripping it and struck him on the body.”

Police had been called and found the victim outside the house with bruising and swelling to his face. He was treated by paramedics who had also been called to the scene.

Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said: “This incident should not have happened. Too much drink had been taken. It’s not the case that the complainer was a friend of his partner’s. He was known through a mutual acquaintance who had been there but had left.

“Mr Haddow became annoyed when he wanted to go to bed but the complainer would not leave.”

Sheriff Charles MacNair said: “This was an assault which caused significant injury.” He imposed a community payback order with 180 hours of unpaid work.