A Cowdenbeath shop worker was kicked on the head during an assault by a crack cocaine addict.

The assailant was 31-year-old Stuart Graham, formerly of High Street, Cowdenbeath and currently in prison.

He appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court by video-link from jail to be sentenced for a string of offences he admitted.

Serial offender Graham managed to avoid being sentenced to any more jail time and thanked the sheriff.

He admitted that on August 29, 2021, having found a debit card in Cowdenbeath, without trying to find the owner, he stole it.

On the same day at the Golf Garage, High Street, he used the card to buy groceries worth £51.52 by fraud.

At Morrisons, Raith Centre, he used the card to obtain goods worth £23.

On September 3, 2021 again at the Golf Garage, he stole a quantity of laundry detergent.

The same day at B&M, High Street, he assaulted an employee by kicking him on the head and body.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said Graham had been seen acting suspiciously in the store and the manager asked if he needed any help.

Graham reacted by saying he was not a shoplifter and became agitated.

Another employer came over in an effort to de-escalate the situation but Graham jumped up in the air and struck out.

The worker grabbed Graham who continued to lash out, landing blows to the man’s head and body.

The court heard that Graham has a long list of previous convictions including assault and robbery.

Defence solicitor James McMackin said: “He was addicted to crack cocaine at the time as well as poor mental health.”

Sheriff Charles Lugton jailed Graham for six months, running concurrently with his current sentences which have an earliest release date in 2027.

Graham was grateful to the sheriff, saying “Thank you”.