A LOCHGELLY man who assaulted his ex in a Cardenden pub has avoided a jail sentence.

Sheriff Charles Macnair said despite "considerable hesitation" he was prepared to place Danny Moffat, 34, on a community payback order.

He had appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday after previously admitting that on February 10, at the Railway Tavern, he assaulted his former partner by pushing her to the ground and kicking her on the body to her injury.

He also assaulted another woman by repeatedly pushing her to the ground and assaulted his partner by seizing her her by the hair during the same incident.

On February 13, at a property in Station Road, Cardenden, Moffat, of The Avenue, also resisted, obstructed or hindered police officers in execution of their duty by struggling violently with them.

Depute fiscal, Jamie Roy, said the former partner of Moffat had been in the pub and he had been in, left and then returned. An argument began at last orders.

Moffat moved towards her and pushed her to the ground and then kicked her to the buttocks when she was on the floor.

Other witnesses attempted to intervene and he pushed another woman in the struggle and grabbed his partner by the hair and pulled her away before he left the pub.

Police came to his house about two days later and he was arrested. He moved to the kitchen and made a dash for the door and, in doing so, pushed a police officer out of the way. A struggle took place with the officers and he was eventually handcuffed.

Solicitor, Chris Sneddon, said occasional comments had been exchanged and "matters kicked-off" after the ex partner said she had messages from Moffat which she wanted to show his girlfriend.

"The whole incident lasted approximately a minute," he said.

"It was totally unpleasant and unacceptable behaviour but was against a particular background.

"The last charge, he realised his mistake and became compliant and apologised to the police officers."

Sheriff Macnair placed Moffat on a community payback order with supervision for 18 months. He also ordered him to do 143 hours of unpaid work within nine months.

He told him: "Violence in licensed premises is always an aggravation because of the risk of violence spreading. It is only with considerable hesitation that I am going to deal with this by way of a non custodial sentence."