A YOUNG woman with borderline personality disorder assaulted her former partner in Wemyss Bay after he branded her an 'unfit mother', a court has heard.

Kayleigh Gittens, 21, punched the man on the head after 'nursing' anger over him contacting social workers about her, a sentencing hearing was told.

Miss Gittens — a first-time offender — 'lost control' and lashed out at him during a flashpoint confrontation near the village's ferry terminal.

Her lawyer said: "She is a single mother who has borderline personality disorder which is controlled by medication.

"That is a factor in what happened.

"She formerly stayed with the complainer at his his home, there were a number of domestic arguments and it was thought best that they separate.

"There are extant civil proceedings."

The solicitor added: "A difficulty arose due to behaviour which would be considered provocative. The complainer made reports to the social work department suggesting Miss Gittens was not a fit mother.

"Against that background her sense of grievance had been nursed.

"She was extremely upset and she lost control."

Miss Gittens had also been accused of grabbing and struggling violently with her ex's new girlfriend but her not guilty plea to this allegation was accepted by prosecutors.

Prosecutor Michael Cunningham said: "An altercation resulted in the complainer being struck in the face by the accused at around 1.10pm on January 9.

"She had begun to act in an aggressive manner by shouting and swearing."

Borderline personality disorder is a mental illness that severely impacts a person's ability to regulate their emotions.

Sheriff Michael Higgins deferred sentence until November 9 for Miss Gittens, whose address was not given in court, to be of good behaviour.