A MUSSELBURGH man kicked a woman in the head after she had argued with his girlfriend.

Darrell Hotchkiss launched the attack on Ellen MacInnes during a night out in the town last August.

Hotchkiss, of Stoneybank Road, and his partner had been socialising with Ms MacInnes and her boyfriend when the two women became involved in an altercation.

Solicitor Rebecca Weissgerber had previously told Edinburgh Sheriff Court that her client had suffered “clouded judgement” when he lashed out while “intoxicated”. The lawyer said that Hotchkiss “can’t believe” what he did and added: “I can’t stress enough how thoroughly ashamed he is.”

Hotchkiss pleaded guilty to the attack when he appeared at the city court in May and was back in the dock for sentencing last Tuesday.

Sheriff Adrian Cottam placed Hotchkiss on 12 months of supervision. The 25-year-old was also told to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

Hotchkiss pleaded guilty to assaulting Ellen MacInnes by kicking her to the head to her injury at Bridge Street, Musselburgh, on August 28 last year.