A MAN who smashed a bottle over another male's head after believing he would be 'attacked with a bread knife' in an Ayr kitchen has been jailed.

James Lynch pleaded guilty last week to assaulting the victim to his injury and permanent disfigurement on June 9 in the town's Church Court.

The 34-year old, whose address was listed as HMP Kilmarnock, was out on bail at the time, and admitted to striking the complainer on the head with the glass bottle.

When he appeared from custody on Tuesday, September 24, procurator fiscal depute Edwin Sheeran said the men had turned up at the address earlier this year and were consuming alcohol.

The prosecutor told the court: "At 12.15am [June 9] Lynch attended and three remained in the locus drinking.

"There was a verbal altercation between the witness and the accused. He picked up a glass bottle and struck his face.

"[The victim] entered the living room with his face covered in blood.  

"The accused made good his escape before police witnesses attended and observed signs of a struggle.

"The witness attended Ayr hospital and required three stitches; the injuries resulted in scarring."

Lynch was traced the following day in Ayr's High Street and was arrested and charged.

Defence solicitor Ian Gillies told the court his client pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity through section 76 procedures. 

He said: "He is now 34 with an unenviable record, the situation is inevitable.

"He and [the complainer] for some reason got into an argument while in the kitchen, he [the complainer] picked up a large bread knife. Mr Lynch thought he was coming to assault him while drinking beer and struck him on the head."

Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart said: "With your record you know custody is inevitable.

"I'm going to give you full credit for seeking to resolve matters and there will be appropriate modifications."

He was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment - reduced from two years - and the term was backdated to June 10 when he was first remanded.