Three thugs have admitted carrying out a savage attack on a couple in the centre of Ayr following a vicious assault on a nightclub bouncer.

The unprovoked attack on the couple in the Lorne Arcade came after Dylan Roberts, Finn McLaughlin and Leon Roberts were kicked out of the Vinyl nightclub nearby.

The trio all entered pleas of guilty during a pre-trial court hearing following the incidents on October 23, 2022.

Dylan Roberts admitted carrying out a sustained attack on the nightclub employee, punching him repeatedly on the head to his severe injury.

Roberts also pleaded guilty to repeatedly punching another man, causing him to fall to the ground, and kicking and stamping on the second victim’s head and body, again to his severe injury.

All three accused admitted assaulting a woman, with Dylan Roberts pleading guilty to grabbing hold of her, throwing her to the ground, repeatedly kicking her to the head and repeatedly pushing her on the body, all to her severe injury.

McLaughlin pleaded guilty to the same charge of assaulting the woman, under deletion of the words ‘repeatedly kick her on the head’.

Leon Roberts admitted repeatedly punching and kicking the man on the head and body.

The fiscal depute told Ayr Sheriff Court: “At 12.30am on October 23 the witness was working as a door steward at Vinyl nightclub . He was made aware of a disturbance and ejected three people, the three accused, from the locus.  

“However Dylan Roberts, who was wearing a black top with orange stripes, became extremely aggressive, and started repeatedly punching him to the face, causing him to fall to the ground.

"He felt disorientated and struggled to get back to his feet.  

“Another witness heard the stramash outside, went out, and saw his friend at the pillar with a cut in the middle of his forehead. His friend was complaining of a sore jaw and saying he couldn’t shut it.

"He took him to the office and gave first aid for cuts to his forehead and elbow, and the other steward contacted police.”

The court heard the attack by a male matching Dylan Roberts’ description was seen on CCTV footage.

The prosecutor continued: “Dylan Roberts, Finn McLaughlin and Leon Roberts were then met by [a male and female], not known to them, who were out that night for drinks.  

“As both walked down Newmarket Street to the High Street, they heard screaming and saw a male.

“They asked if he was okay. He replied ‘aye alright fat cow’. 

"After saying something back, Dylan Roberts and Finn McLaughlan started punching and kicking the second complainer, causing him to fall to the ground, then continued kicking and punching him. 

“The woman tried to stop the assault and was kicked to her face. Dylan Roberts was responsible for this.”

The assault continued “for a few minutes” before the trio ran off down the High Street and across the Auld Brig towards TK Maxx.

The fiscal continued: “The male followed, shouting at them. They began to kick and punch him, and again got him on the ground.

“This continued for another few minutes before police arrived after being alerted to an altercation.

“The officers stopped their vehicle and on approach saw the three accused above the male, punching and kicking him to the head and body.

“All accused attempted to make off.”

McLaughlin, however was arrested at the scene, while Leon Roberts was placed in a marked police vehicle.

The fiscal depute added: “Police attended the riverside area, and an area search was carried out. Dylan Roberts was found hiding at a wall.

“He ran towards John Street, and police gave chase, shouting ‘stop’.

“Dylan Roberts tried to jump over a wall, but was unable to do so, due to his jeans falling down.

“This enabled officers to catch up with him. He was handcuffed and placed in a marked cell van.”

Police later obtained CCTV footage from Vinyl, which closed in January and reopened as the Notion events space at the end of April.

Sheriff Mhairi Mactaggart said she did not wish to view the CCTV footage during the hearing.

Bail was continued for the trio, of two separate addresses in Park Street and Altonhill in Kilmarnock respectively.

All three will return to court at a later date for sentencing.