A man enjoying a night out was viciously assaulted in an unprovoked attack on Cowdenbeath High Street.

The 20-year-old victim was knocked unconscious for around four minutes and sustained a ruptured ear drum in the assault.

Dominik Biernasiuk, 35, of Factory Road, Cowdenbeath, has been sentenced at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He claimed he was so drunk after six hours on lager and spirits that he could not remember anything about what happened.

Biernasiuk previously admitted that on May 1 last year he assaulted his victim by punching him in the face, whereby he fell to the ground and was rendered unconscious, all to his injury.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf previously told the court: “The complainer didn’t know the accused although he recognised him as a customer in a shop he works in.

“The complainer was out at a party consuming alcohol. The party finished at 1am and he decided to go out to a nightclub with a friend.

“They were walking up the street when they were approached by two males acting aggressively. The accused’s behaviour caused them the most concern.

“They were told to go away but refused and the accused then punched the complainer on the face. He was knocked to the ground rendering him unconscious.

“His friend saw blood coming from his ear and phoned an ambulance. After three or four minutes he regained consciousness.”

He was taken to hospital, had cuts to his face stitched and was found to have a ruptured ear drum.

Defence solicitor John Bain said of Biernasiuk: “He had a huge amount of drink and can’t remember anything.

“He’s a first offender and is very sorry for what he did. The only explanation he can give is that he was very drunk.

"He had been drinking lager, vodka and other spirits for six hours.

“He’s been in this country for 10 years and says this incident was out of character.”

Sheriff Michael Fletcher imposed a community payback order with 150 hours of unpaid work.

He also ordered Biernasiuk to pay his victim £600.