Bus Passenger En Route to St Andrews to be Sentenced for Life-Endangering Assault

Buckhaven resident Stuart Smith is set to appear in court on 10 March, 2026 for the sentencing of a life-endangering assault committed on a bus travelling to St Andrews from Auchtermuchty on 29 November, 2024.

Smith, who attacked a passenger on the bus, had known the victim for two months prior to the incident, said Prosecutor Emma Farmer. According to Dundee Sheriff Court, Smith had been drinking at the man’s house in Auchtermuchty before they both boarded the 64 bus.

Whilst on the bus, Smith provoked an altercation with the victim, shouting, “You called me a paedo. I was in jail for two years, I’m not going to jail again.” Smith continued, threatening, “You are calling me a paedo. You’re a f***ing paedo, and you know it. You better stop it or I’m gonnae kill you,” according to the transcript given in The Courier.

Smith then knocked the victim unconscious and dragged him onto a roadside verge between Ceres and Craigothie, where he punched the victim several times in the face and bit his torso for a “prolonged period,” said Farmer.

CCTV footage from the bus documented the attack, and Smith was arrested at the scene. On the way to West Bell Street Headquarters for processing, Smith made additional comments, stating, “Lucky the c*** was on camera. He’s lucky I wasn’t hungry or I would have eaten his liver,” adding, “If I hit him harder, I would have been getting done for murder.”

Per the Court report, Smith was linked with making references to the fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter. “Smith mentioned Hannibal Lecter and stated that he was going to bite the victim’s liver out and that the victim was lucky he didn’t have a machete as he would cut his liver out,” said Farmer.

Smith pled guilty to life-endangering assault and acting in a threatening or abusive manner.

He had been on bail since December 2024 until Sheriff Mark Thorley revoked it on 10 February, 2026, ahead of his sentencing.

“Custody is absolutely inevitable. I can’t see any alternative,” Thorley told The Courier.

Smith has a past criminal record dating back to 2014, including crimes of dishonesty, breaches of bail, and assault. He was denied the defence of mental disorder.

The Saint filed a Freedom of Information request with Police Scotland but received no response at the time of publication.

More information on the issues raised in this article can be accessed by the University’s Advice and Support Centre (ASC) by calling +44 (0)1334 46 2020

Photo by Wikimedia Commons