DUNFERMLINE'S JOSH KING SENTENCED TO 34 MONTHS FOR BRUTAL ATTACK ON SCHOOLBOY
A man from Dunfermline named Josh King has been handed a significant prison sentence after a violent and unprovoked assault on a young schoolboy.The incident, which took place as the 13-year-old was walking home from a friend’s house, resulted in serious injuries and a lengthy jail term for King.
According to court reports, King, who was intoxicated at the time, launched a vicious attack on the boy.
Witnesses described how King, who was shirtless and appeared unsteady on his feet, suddenly crossed the street and approached the young victim without any apparent reason.
Without warning, he grabbed the boy by the throat, threw him to the ground, and began kicking him repeatedly.
The assault was so severe that the boy was knocked to the pavement and screamed for help, desperately pleading for the violence to stop.
Fortunately, a nearby woman working in an office heard the commotion.
She looked outside and saw the distressing scene: the boy curled up in a ball on the ground, blood streaming from his face and mouth, and King continuing to kick him at least three times in the face.
Concerned for the boy’s safety, she rushed outside to intervene.
As she approached, King saw her coming and fled the scene.
When the woman reached the injured boy, she found him in a state of shock, bleeding heavily from facial wounds, with a severely swollen nose and a dislodged front tooth.
She quickly took him to his nearby home, where his mother was informed of the attack.
The police were called, and officers arrived to assess the situation.
Due to his injuries, the boy was unable to communicate much initially but was taken to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy for treatment.
Medical staff at the hospital treated the boy for his injuries, which included stitches to a facial wound, a fractured nose, and a missing front tooth.
During the investigation, the police obtained evidence linking King to the assault.
The victim later identified King as the attacker by showing officers his Facebook profile, and the woman who helped the boy also confirmed his identity.
Photographs of the injuries sustained by the boy were presented to Sheriff Charles MacNair during the court proceedings.
King’s defense lawyer, Alexander Flett, acknowledged that his client admitted guilt from the outset but claimed that King did not remember the incident.
Flett expressed remorse, stating that King was horrified upon seeing the graphic images of the injuries and was genuinely remorseful for his actions.
In sentencing, Sheriff MacNair described the attack as “vicious and sustained,” emphasizing that it was completely unprovoked.
The court noted that King had a history of previous convictions for assault, which added weight to the severity of the case.
As a result, King was sentenced to 28 months in prison for the assault on the boy, with an additional 184 days for breaching community payback orders.
Furthermore, upon release, King will be subject to a supervised release order for one year.
At the time of sentencing, King, aged 21 and currently incarcerated at Perth, appeared in Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
It was also revealed that he is serving a separate 18-month sentence for a series of violent attacks on a former partner, which included punching, kicking, standing on her, dragging her by the hair, and throwing her down stairs.
These assaults, some of which occurred while the victim was pregnant, were committed over an extended period and have been described as particularly brutal.
Sheriff MacNair condemned King’s violent behavior, highlighting the seriousness of his actions and the danger he posed to others.
The court’s decision reflects the gravity of his repeated violent offenses, including the recent attack on the schoolboy, which was characterized as “horrendous.” King’s ongoing incarceration underscores the judicial system’s stance on violent offenders and the importance of public safety.
