A MAN who carried out a brutal and “exceptionally dangerous” assault in Alloa has been handed a fine.

Brian Ward appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday where he offered a guilty plea after punching a man on Mill Street on December 17.

After punching him the man to the ground, he proceeded to repeatedly kick him to the head.

A sheriff previously said that the matter would be too serious to be dealt with a financial penalty, only for another sheriff to impose a fine.

Susannah Hutchison, prosecuting, told the court last month that at around 3.15am the complainer was walking home from Chalmers nightclub with his girlfriend.

Ms Hutchison continued: “They passed a group which included the accused who was singing football songs which offended the complainer. He [complainer] asked the accused to keep his voice down.”

The accused then approached the complainer and punched him on the face, sending the man to the ground. He then kicked the defenceless man on the head twice.

His victim was then seen to be bleeding from the nose and had both of his front teeth broken in the attack which cost £300 to be fixed. He also suffered a burst lip which had to be glued.

The 31-year-old attacker was subsequently pointed out to police.

Kristina Kelly, defending Ward, said her client had “no memory” of the incident because of how drunk he was, but did remember having an argument with someone and speaking to police.

The lawyer added that her client “struggles to believe” he did it, but cannot offer any argument as he has no recollection.

She told the court that Ward was a first offender and that any conviction would have an impact on her client’s job.

Ms Kelly, speaking in April, called for Ward to be punished with a financial penalty.

Sheriff David Mackie, however, told Ward at the time that the offence was too serious to be dealt with by way of a fine.

Despite this, Sheriff Dickson, presiding over the sentencing, deemed a fine and compensation order a suitable punishment.

He told Ward, of Upper Mill Street, Tillicoultry, that he is lucky he is not facing punishment in the High Court as kicking someone on the head is an “exceptionally dangerous” act.

He fined him £1000 and ordered him to pay £750 compensation to the victim.