A NEW dad has escaped a jail sentence after he admitted an attack on a man which left the victim injured and having to have a metal plate fitted to his face.

Kenneth Galloway, 21, punched Arran Lawson to the head during an incident at a bus stop in Musselburgh following an online row about a woman.

Galloway struck Mr Lawson in the face after the pair came together outside a shop at the town’s Pinkie Road last March.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court previously heard that Galloway had “taken a step back and launched himself” at Mr Lawson.

Mr Lawson was knocked unconscious for a few seconds during the confrontation but the two men then went their separate ways after shaking hands.

On his return home, Lawson then noticed he was injured and had suffered a broken jaw during the incident.

The victim attended St John’s Hospital in Livingston and had a metal plate fitted to his face to help the injury heal.

Galloway pleaded guilty to the assault at a hearing at the court on June 14 and returned last Wednesday for sentencing.

The 21-year-old has now been ordered to pay his victim £600 in compensation and told he must carry out 130 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Galloway, of Pinkie Terrace, Musselburgh, has also been placed on supervision for 18 months as part of his punishment.

Lesley Cunningham, defending solicitor, told the court the attack was “out of character” for her client and he “accepts responsibility” for his actions.

Ms Cunningham added that Galloway was “remorseful and ashamed” at what he had done and was now “determined to stay out of trouble” in the future.

Previously, the solicitor said Galloway “did not mean to cause that level of injury” to Mr Lawson and was “extremely ashamed” at appearing in court.

The lawyer added that Galloway had a three-month-old child and was currently in the process of looking for accommodation for him and his new family.

Sheriff John Cook said: “This was a serious injury caused by you with one punch.

“A custodial sentence given the injury is an option.

“However, this was out of character and, as you are remorseful and a first offender, an alternative to custody in this case is a community payback order.”

Galloway admitted assaulting Mr Lawson by punching him to the head whereby he fell to the ground to his injury at Pinkie Road, Musselburgh, on March 8 last year.