A 37-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for 16 months for assaults on two boys aged 11 and 12.

One of the victims was grabbed by the throat and dragged down stairs which resulted in him striking his head and being injured.

David Thomson, formerly of Allison Street, Kirkcaldy, and recently living at Glebe Park, Strathmiglo, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for a string of offences.

He admitted that on various occasions between April 1 and June 6, at two addresses in Cardenden, he assaulted a boy, then aged 12, by grabbing him repeatedly by the throat and body, dragging him down stairs and causing him to strike his head on the ground, all to his injury.

He also admitted that on May 25, at the same addresses, he shouted, swore and made threats of violence towards the same boy.

Thomson further admitted that on various occasions between March 1 and June 6 in Cardenden, he assaulted another boy, then aged 11, by slapping him repeatedly on the head and body to his injury.

He also breached bail conditions by contacting youngsters in Kirkcaldy when ordered not to do so.

He further admitted that on June 11 last year at Cardenden, he repeatedly shouted, swore, acted aggressively, punched and kicked windows and made threats of violence.

He also admitted that on September 1 last year, at an address in Oakley, he shouted, swore, acted aggressively towards his then partner and damaged a table.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said one of the boys had been dragged down a flight of stairs, striking his head on the bannister.

He was grabbed again and pulled into the garden before he managed to run off and escaped the pursuing Thomson.

The boy was taken into the house of someone who knew him and was described as being “upset and distressed”.

Thomson later turned up at the house and was standing outside, bare-chested, shouting, swearing and threatening violence.

When he was allowed into the house, he tried to grab the boy to pull him outside but was unsuccessful and the police were called. Officers found the boy had reddening to his neck and a bump on his head.

Police investigations later revealed the assaults on the second boy.

When arrested, Thomson said: “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

The incident on June 11 involved Thomson’s violent behaviour when sheriff officers and a housing officer were at his house to evict him.

Thomson threatened to kill the housing officer repeatedly, and punched and kicked windows after refusing entry initially.

Defence solicitor Aime Allan said her client “accepts he has an issue with his anger”.

She added: “He can present as being quite aggressive although he doesn’t mean to do so.”