A FORMER soldier from Kelty punched a six-year-old boy, cutting his lip.

In another incident, Garry Beveridge was racially-abusive to a police officer, saying he hated Irish people.

Beveridge, 63, of John Smith Place, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on January 20, 2020, at his home, he made racially-offensive comments repeatedly towards police officers.

He also admitted that on February 10, 2020, at his home, he assaulted a boy then aged six by punching him to the head.

Depute fiscal Amy Robertson said in the latter incident, there were adults and children visiting Beveridge’s home.

Beveridge was heard saying to the six-year-old boy: “Get out of the way or I’ll punch you.”

He then punched the boy on the face. The child screamed and ran out of the room having sustained a cut to his lip.

The earlier incident occurred after Beveridge fell and hurt his shoulder when intoxicated. He was abusive to ambulance staff and then to police officers.

He told the police he had served in the army and hated Irish people. He called one of the officers an “Irish c***” and said his colleague was a “Paki b******”.

Defence solicitor Chris Sneddon said his client suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving as a soldier in Northern Ireland.

Sheriff James MacDonald imposed a community payback order with 12 months of supervision and a 12-week restriction of liberty order.