A HELENSBURGH man has pleaded guilty to carrying out a violent attack with a hammer on someone who was about to borrow his microwave.

George Murray, of Buchanan Road in Kirkmichael, admitted assaulting the man and repeatedly striking him on the head and body with a hammer to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

The victim was alone at home at around 10pm on February 17 last year when he made his way towards the home of Murray.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week heard how the victim had hoped to visit Murray's home to heat up a microwave meal because his was broken.

The man saw 41-year-old Murray walking down the path in Buchanan Road towards him and had his hands in his hoodie when suddenly Murray produced a hammer and struck the man to his head and arm.

He stated: “George, I’ve not done anything. I’ve not done anything.”

Murray said another man believed the victim was responsible for a housebreaking.

The victim returned home and called police, who found the man with blood coming from his face.

He was treated at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley and found to have 4cm and 3cm lacerations to his face and a 1cm laceration to his arm. He got 13 stitches in total.

Fiscal depute Claire Nicholls told the court: “The injuries were severe and will result in permanent scarring.”

Murray had been sentenced to a community payback order with a requirement for unpaid work just weeks before the attack, but the work had not actually started.

Sheriff Simon Pender deferred sentence on Murray until April 4 to allow reports to be prepared. His bail was continued.

* Immediately after the case, Murray’s victim appeared in the dock over an alleged contempt of court for not appearing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on January 23.

But the court heard police only served a citation on him late the night before and after conflicting information from the procurator fiscal’s office that he wouldn’t need to attend.

Sheriff Pender, having consulted law books, said a citation should reasonably be served at least 48 hours beforehand.

He said the man “cannot be held in contempt” and that it was “preposterous” that the witness was served notice to attend court only the night before.