A 27-year-old man who fractured a man's cheekbone in a random attack in Peebles High Street has been ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

First offender Dale Amos had been at Walkerburn rugby sevens before turning up in Peebles on May 24, 2015.

The court heard how Amos punched his 44-year-old victim once to the face which knocked him to the ground resulting in his head striking the ground.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said:"A loud thud was heard by witnesses. The victim suffered a fractured left cheekbone and cuts to the head. In the circumstances things could have been a lot worse.

"This is a clear example of how things go badly go badly wrong when someone has had too much to drink."

A lawyer for Amos of Wester Hailes Park in Edinburgh said his client had never been in trouble before but recognised it was a serious matter.

Amos - who pleaded guilty to the assault - normally worked as a labourer but suffered a fractured vertebrae in his spine after being struck by a beam. However he hopes to be back in employment soon.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond said: "You can see what happens with one single punch. We have seen deaths in the High Court in similar circumstances."

Sheriff Drummond took into account the previous good character in imposing the six month community pay back order involving 100 hours of unpaid work.

The victim had described how Amos attacked him for no reason grabbing the straw hat he had been wearing as he had been attending the Tweedlove festival before going for a few drinks in Peebles.

He said: "The first thing I can remember about the incident is waking up in hospital the next morning."