Man admits biting another man's ear off and attacking a pensioner in Paisley

A man has admitted launching an unprovoked attack on a 69-year-old jogger on a cycle path and biting another man's ear off in Paisley.

Sean McCall, 24, pleaded guilty to assaulting pensioner Thomas Lamond to his severe injury and disfigurement by kicking and stamping on him on February 4, last year, at the cycle path next to Canal Street in the town.

He also admitted biting of the ear of Kenneth Crowhurst on June 17, 2019 at a house in Paisley, to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Mr Lamond, who was covered in blood, suffered a broken jaw, swelling and cuts and bruises to his face and lost a tooth in the brutal unprovoked attack.

Mr Lamond begged Angnes Cummings, who saw the attack and stopped her car: “Missus gonnae help me.”

She told McCall to leave his victim alone and said she was calling the police.

Prosecutor Kath Harper said: “She watched as the accused repeatedly punched Mr Lamond who she described as tiny and very thin.

“She shouted 'That's enough” and 'I'm going to phone the police.' She phoned the police and McCall was still punching Mr Lamond on the head and then pulled off his top.

“Mr Lamond fell to the ground and the accused repeatedly kicked him on the face and head.”

The court heard that McCall then rummaged through Mr Lamond pockets as he lay bleeding and helpless and robbed him of his wallet.

The court heard that Mr Lamond, who jogged every day to Elderslie and back was joined at 6am by McCall who ran alongside him and muttered something indecipherable.

When Mr Lamond told McCall to leave him alone he was attacked and feared he was going to die.

Ms Harper said: “The accused was 'kicking like hell' into Mr Lamond who feared he was going to kill him.”

The court heard that McCall was traced by police and Mr Lamond's blood was found on his Nike Air Max trainers.

The second assault was on a friend of McCall's mother 47-year-old Kenneth Crowhurst.

There was ill-feeling between the accused and his mother Karen McCall. He became angry and punched and head-butted Mr Crowhurst before pinning him to the floor and biting off his left ear.

Surgeons were unable to re-attach it.

Judge Sean Murphy deferred sentence on McCall, who has previous convictions including breach of the law, possession of drugs, vandalism and culpable and reckless conduct, for background reports.

He is remanded in custody.

Solicitor advocate Raymond McIlwham will give his plea in mitigation when the case calls again next month.

Hear all the latest news from across Glasgow and the West on the hour, every hour, at Clyde 1. Listen on FM, via our Radio Clyde app, on your DAB radio, online at Clyde1.com, or say ‘Play Clyde 1’ on your Smart Speaker.