A CARDENDEN man who assaulted an eight-year-old boy by slapping him “really hard” has been sentenced.

Steven Law, 31, of Cluny Park, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted previously that on July 10, at his home, he assaulted the child by striking him on the head.

The court heard that Law had a previous conviction for hitting the same child.

Depute fiscal Laurelle Johnstone told the court previously that the blow was described by a witness as being “an open-hand slap, really hard”.

The boy lay down on the floor crying afterwards.

Defence solicitor David McLaughlin said his client had been sentenced to 90 hours of unpaid work for the previous assault on the boy.

He added: “It’s clear he’s thoroughly ashamed of himself. He was under the impression the child had struck another child.”

Sheriff Wylie Robertson told Law: “This is your fourth conviction for assault and the second for assaulting this child. Custody is at the forefront of the court’s consideration.”

Instead, he imposed a community payback order with 18 months of supervision and 200 hours of unpaid work.