A convicted rapist, Darren Butler, has acknowledged a “evil and wicked” attack on a guy who was “provoking him” on his prior convictions.
Darren Butler, 42, confessed to striking Ernest Boundy on the head and assaulting him with kicks to the body outside The Beath Inn in Cowdenbeath in December.
The Dunfermline Sheriff Court was informed that the victim was vocally discussing Butler’s criminal background while they were at a different pub prior to the incident.
Darren Butler was incarcerated for ten years in 2013 following a jury conviction for a heinous series of sexual assaults on women.
He raped three people and committed indecent acts against a fourth.
Darren Butler denied the offences, claiming he acted in self-defence, but was found guilty of 15 charges at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Lord Glennie said the women had been changed from bubbly personalities to being “wracked by fear, anxiety and depression”.
Darren Butler, of Main Street, Lumphinnans, Cowdenbeath, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline and admitted carrying out the assault on Mr Boundy on December 17, last year.
Procurator fiscal depute Catherine Stevenson told the court that Darren Butler and Mr Boundy both ended up in pub that evening after a “verbal altercation” at another establishment.
Darren Butler was overheard by a witness outside The Beath Inn saying: “He is going to get it when he comes out”.
Ms Stevenson said the pair were seen pushing each other outside and the complainer fell to the ground and was punched.
She said Darren Butler also kicked the man as he lay on the ground.
Police later arrived and Butler remained at the scene and told officers he was defending himself.
On being charged, Darren Butler told police the man had “threatened his life” and so he used “appropriate force”.
Defence lawyer Aime Allan said the original cause of disagreement was the complainer “talking rather loudly in the pub about Mr Butler’s previous convictions”.
The solicitor said Darren Butler went to another pub and Mr Boundy followed.
She said her client was on the phone to a friend when the man approached him outside.
Ms Allan said Darren Butler is “no stranger to custody” but has no other outstanding matters.
She said settling back into life at liberty “for a man who served a sentence as long as he has can be no easy feat”.
The bottom line is Darren Butler was banged up again but will out again soon.
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