A young man assaulted his ex partner's boyfriend with a hammer after creeping up behind them with his face covered.

Darrio Quiggley awaits sentence after assaulting the man to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement during a savage assault in Troon last year.

The 23-year-old pleaded guilty last Wednesday to sneaking up on the victim in Templehill, Troon.

The Procurator Fiscal depute said: "He first appeared from custody on March 20, 2023. He made no plea and was committed for further examination. Bail was sought and granted.

"The complainer was 21 and in a relationship with [a female] on the date of the offence who was in a prior relationship with the accused. 

"On Saturday, March 18, 2023, they were on night out Prestwick. At 10.45pm they were walking along Templehill in Troon. The accused was wearing all black with a snood covering his face.  

“He approached the complainer from behind in possession of a hammer then struck him to the head two or three times, causing him to bleed. 

"He then pulled his snood down to reveal his identity. The [female] witness was yelling for him to stop and put the hammer down 

"The accused chased the witness and [female witness] got involved grabbing the accused by his hood and asking what he was doing. The accused ran off entering a carpark and she followed. She saw he had only one trainer on at this time and got into a car with another male known to her. 

"She opened the door and grabbed the hammer while he held on to it. He then got out the car and ran away with his friend 

"Police and ambulance services provided details of the car registration. 

“The complainer had no recollection but recalls woke up covered in blood and heard screaming. Police attended but due to the long wait for an ambulance he was conveyed to Ayr hospital by police officers 

“The hammer was found within the vehicle registered to the accused. 

“On March 19, police witness attended the home address of his mother who contacted him.  He was cautioned and charged. 

The injuries included a 1-2cm laceration to back of his head which was glued, a one cm laceration index finger, two chipped teeth, two laceration of 3cm at eye socket, a fracture to the eye socket and permanent scarring. 

Defence solicitor Alex Muir told the court: “He is 23-year-old single man and lives with his mother. He is in full time employment providing safety on the railways. He has been on bail since. 

Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart deferred sentence for criminal justice social work reports and warned Quiggley he must "cooperate fully".

Bail was continued for Quiggley, of Pennant Court, Irvine, and he will return to court at a later date.