A 44-year-old man, who went armed with a knife to his ex-partner’s home, has been sent to prison.

First-time offender William Whyte, of Sinclair Drive, Cowdenbeath, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on November 18 at Sinclair Drive, he assaulted a boy, then aged 14, by seizing him by the clothing, pushing him on the body and attempting to strike him with a knife.

He also admitted he was unlawfully in possession of an offensive weapon.

The court was told Whyte had been invited to the home of his former partner but an argument had began between him and the youth.

Whyte had grabbed the youngster by the shirt and shouted: “Do you really want to start this?”

He then pulled a steak knife from his back pocket before the ex-partner jumped in between them.

Defence solicitor Shona Westwood said her client was a first offender. He was unable to recall the incident as he had been taking alcohol and diazepam at the time.

Sheriff Wylie Robertson jailed Whyte for eight months.

He commented: “You went to this house armed with a knife and attempted to strike the complainer with it.”