A TILLICOULTRY man has admitted assaulting his younger brother last month in an attempt to keep him out of trouble with police.

Michael Fyall (28), of Hillview Terrace, pleaded guilty to the attack at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday (22 January).

His defence agent told the court that he had initially acted in the best interests of his brother in trying to keep him from breaching bail conditions.

However, he admitted he was wrong to use force in the way he had done. The incident took place on Main Street, Cambus, on 14 December 2014 Depute fiscal Marie-Claire Chaffey explained: “At 3.45am on the day libelled, the householder arrived home after a night out with some friends and the accused and the complainer came out from a nearby property.

“The complainer then approached the house and began shouting at the householder’s friends who had gone inside and challenging some to fight.” Mrs Chaffey said the complainer was then told to go away with Fyall trying to act as peacemaker by trying to take him away.

She added: “This led to a verbal altercation between both the accused and the complainer which resulted in the accused punching the complainer on the head, causing him to fall to the ground, before kicking him on the body.

“The police were then called and upon being told of their imminent arrival, the complainer then got up and ran away.

“When officers arrived, the accused immediately said: ‘I am admitting to assaulting my wee brother’.” In sentencing, Sheriff David Mackie chastised Fyall although he did concede his intentions were not malicious.

He said: “Mr Fyall, I don’t think I really have to say much to you at this time.

“Your motivations on this occasion are understandable, but you approached this wrong.

“You are doing well on your current order so what I proposed to do is to defer this sentence for good behaviour and we will revisit this in the near future.” Fyall will re-appear at Alloa Sheriff Court on 23 April for review.