A MAN admitted assaulting a woman after attending a family member’s funeral.

Jack Dawson, of Drumley Drive Mossblown, was at the Chase Public House in Ayr on April 11 when he assaulted a woman by punching her on the head and kicking her, all to her injury.

The 24-year-old appeared before Sheriff Mhari McTaggart at Ayr Sheriff Court last week.

Depute Fiscal, Lorri Pidgeon, explained: “An argument broke out between a group of females at a wake for a relation of the accused.

“One argument then broke out between the complainer and the accused mother and at that point, the accused mother fell.

“However, the accused saw his mother lying on the ground with the complainer standing over her.

“He then made his way towards the complainer and punched her in the face and kicked her on the body.

“The police were called and when they arrived the noticed a large-scale disturbance going on inside the building.

“They noted down the accused details and released him. 

“The complainer suffered bruising and scratching to her chest.”

Speaking on his behalf, defence solicitor, Mr Fitzpatrick, said: “My client is in full-time employment and he was at a family members funeral.

“There had been a rift in the family and he and his mother attended the funeral, which was a large step forward to reconciliation.

“It was going well and the family were getting back on track but an altercation took place between my client’s mother and the complainer.

“Seeing the complainer standing over his mother is what prompt him to act in the way that he did.

“The report shown in a favourable one and it is a positive report.

“Mr Dawson is in no doubt that a custodial sentence is at the forefront of my lady’s mind.”

Sheriff McTaggart addressed Dawson.

She said: “The nature of this, you are looking to face a custodial sentence.

“However, I will stand back from that today and issue you a community payback order.

“With supervision for 18 months.”

Dawson is also to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work over a 12-month period.