A KILMARNOCK man has confessed to carrying out a brutal attack with a metal baseball bat in the town.

Kevin Bryce was warned "not to take any assurances" from the decision to release him on bail following his guilty plea.

The North Hamilton Street resident pleaded guilty at the town's sheriff court to carrying out the assault on Hurlford Road, while acting along with a second person, on April 11, 2023.

 

Fiscal depute Chris Munro said the victim of the attack was "well known" by Bryce.

Mr Munro told the court the pair had previously worked together for a number of years, but had cut ties after the man had "damaged a number of vehicles" belonging to Bryce - something Bryce has previously admitted in court.

 

The assault itself took place at around 4pm, when the victim was walking his dog.

He saw a blue van approach which he immediately recognised as belonging to Bryce.

The 44-year-old stopped the van in front of the witness and an unknown male got out passenger side of vehicle.

Mr Munro described how Bryce then also got out of the vehicle and grabbed the baseball bat, which he swung at the witness a number of times, causing him to fall to the ground.

He continued to make attempts to strike the man as he was on the ground.

The witness was also kicked in the head a number of times by the other male, while Bryce inflicted blows to his ribs with the bat.

Bryce then walked off and shouted at the witness; "Don't f***ing touch my stuff again."

A passer-by witnessed the incident and went to help the victim. Police were later contacted and Bryce was traced before being arrested, cautioned and charged.

The court heard the victim had suffered a fractured eye socket and a collapsed lung as result of the incident, as well as a number of other physical injuries, though he later discharged himself from hospital, against medical advice.

Bryce's solicitor then called for reports to be made available before sentencing, adding that there was "quite a strong mitigation" behind the incident.

Sheriff Alistair Watson deferred sentence and released Bryce on bail.

The sheriff warned him: “If you are a reasonably intelligent person, it must be clear to you how serious this is.

“At the end of the day, I am going to give regard to the serious nature of the injuries.

“Do not take that as any assurance that you are walking out of this.”