A THUG is facing jail after viciously attacking a man with a glass in an Alloa pub on Christmas morning.

James Syme left the 26-year-old victim with a horrific cut on his forehead nearly two inches long which will leave a permanent scar.

The attack, which was described as “unprovoked”, in The Old Brewery in Alloa happened after Syme's attempts to dance with a woman there were rebuffed.

Ruaraidh Ferguson, prosecuting Syme, said the woman had told him that "his attentions were unwanted".

A short time later Syme, who turned 30 that same day, approached the victim in the venue and spoke to him about this - leaving him very confused as he was completely uninvolved.

Mr Ferguson said: "It confused Mr Lansdowne, as he'd had nothing to do with it.

"The accused then seized Mr Lansdowne by the throat and struck him on the head with the glass."

As the victim began to bleed profusely from his head and police were called, Syme fled the premises.

He was arrested nearby soon after and quickly admitted what he had done to officers.

The victim, meanwhile, was taken to the Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert, 13 miles away.

Doctors there closed the wound on his forehead with four stitches.

Syme, of Hawkhill Road, Alloa, pleaded guilty on indictment at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Tuesday, October 9, to assaulting the man to his injury and permanent disfigurement in the incident on December 25, 2017.

Sheriff Craig Caldwell deferred sentence until November 1 for reports.

Releasing Syme on bail in the meantime, he warned him: "This was an unprovoked attack in a public place with a glass, and it is an offence which will almost certainly attract a custodial sentence."

Defence agent Greg Cunningham said he would reserve his speech in mitigation for the sentencing hearing.