A 28-year-old man has admitted assaulting another man at The Crown in Irvine.

Sean McKie, of Irvine’s Roseholm Avenue, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week where he pled guilty to repeatedly punching and kicking the man on the head and body to his injury at the bar on High Street.

The court heard that the victim had been in a disagreement with one of McKie’s relatives outside The Crown at around 11pm on the night of August 28 last year.

Shortly after this disagreement, McKie arrived at the premises in a white van. He left the vehicle and made his way towards the premises.

At this point, a member of staff from The Crown heard McKie shout after the man who had earlier clashed with his relative.

The victim then tried to flee into the pub and McKie ran in after him, chasing him through the premises.

The man made his way to the fire exit to try and escape from McKie but found it locked.

The court heard that the man then picked up a piece of wood because “he was in fear of being assaulted”.

McKie tackled the man to the ground, and began repeatedly kicking and punching him.

McKie then left through the front door and was seen by staff members entering a white van.

The man who he assaulted later went to Crosshouse Hospital, where he was found to have swelling to his face.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week, Sheriff McDonald said that the incident was a matter where McKie had “come along to defend” his relative but called for the diet to be adjourned in order for reports to be carried out.

McKie will appear at the same court for sentencing at the end of February.