AN IRVINE man is awaiting his fate after carrying out a brutal, booze-fuelled assault on two others.
John Reid had only been released from prison, following a previous conviction, eight days prior to the attack on August 29 this year.
Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard that he "lost his head" after an insensitive remark made about his deceased brother.
Reid appeared in the dock on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to two charges of assault.
The 43-year-old had been released from his custodial sentence on August 21 and moved in with a woman, with whom he had been in an "on-off relationship" for more than a decade, at her home in Irvine.
Prosecutor Gemma McKechnie said that on the day of the incident the pair left her property at around 2pm to head into the town's Main Street.
The court heard the couple crossed paths with a male relative of the woman, and the three decided to buy alcohol together and return to her address to consume it.
While sitting together in the living room later that day, Reid stood up and charged towards the man, the court was told.
The procurator fiscal depute added: "He repeatedly punched him on the head and ribs. He was on top of him during the assault.
"He also threw a mug against the wall causing it to break. The fragments of this struck the man on the head."
The woman had tried to split up the altercation, however, in doing so, Reid swung his hand towards her and knocked her backwards.
She then fell onto the floor and struck her head. She also suffered a number of cuts due to fragments of the smashed mug being on the floor.
Reid continued to unleash a flurry of blows upon the other male before he eventually left the property.
Neighbours had contacted the police after hearing the woman's distressed voice, shouting and banging and officers arrived soon after.
After entering the property, officers took both victims - who were covered in blood - to hospital for treatment.
The man was described as having suffered a cut on his forehead - caused after he was struck by fragments of the mug - as well as a fractured eye socket and bruising to his ribs.
As well as numerous cuts, the woman was kept in for observations due to fears she had suffered a head injury.
Reid was traced two days after the incident before appearing in court to face charges for the first time on September 2. He has been remanded in custody since then.
Defending, solicitor Alex Muir explained that Reid initially left prison with the intention of residing in his own, separate, home address.
The lawyer continued: "He then found that someone had been, essentially, squatting there. It was a mess. All of his mail had been opened and it wasn’t habitable.
"He had his relationship with the woman and circumstances led him to contact her and stay at her house. The downside of that was that she was still drinking at that time. That led to them drinking together."
Mr Muir added that all three parties present at the time of the incident had been under the influence of alcohol.
An argument then broke out between Reid and the other man, the lawyer said.
"They both have circumstances of having a brother that passed away," Mr Muir added.
"That subject came into the conversation. Unfortunately he [the other male] made an insensitive remark saying his own brother was more valuable than that of the accused.
"He lost his head at that point and reacted in a violent manner. He regrets it. He said he wants to learn to control that temper."
Reid will return to court in the new year for sentencing.
Share