Pals Christopher Lee and Christopher Brown were due to be sentenced at Paisley Sheriff Court over the melee which saw ex-cop John Copeland scarred for life.

But they have to wait another three weeks to learn their fate after Sheriff James Spy ruled they should be examined by shrinks ahead of sentencing.

And Copeland, who had gone to court with his family to see his attackers sentenced, also has to wait for justice to be done.

Brown, 32, and 31-year-old Lee went on trial over the brazen attack last month and admitted their guilt after a couple of days of evidence.

Copeland, who served with the force for 33 years, described the rammy at a flat in the Renfrew’s Orchard Street as “a near-death experience”.

He gave a jury a blow-by-blow account of the events of June 26 last year, as pals Lee and Brown burst into his friend’s home armed with a knife.

The crafty ex-cop recorded the melee on his mobile phone and, when the recording was played to the eight women and seven men of the jury, blood-curdling screams could be heard.

The shouts of terror were made by Copeland’s friend, who could be heard apologising repeatedly as Lee battered down her door with the knife, his fists and his feet.

Copeland, who retired in 2000, told the court: “It became a frightening experience, a life-threatening experience.

“I put it down to a near-death experience - anyone in that situation would be terrified.” The former officer, who became a sports therapist when he left the force, said Brown slashed him down the right side of his face.

He said: “I grabbed him and pushed him into the wall.” The ex-officer told the court the pair threatened to “do him in”.

“I was concerned that if I let him go he would attack my friend,” he told the jury.

Copeland, who has been trained in disarming criminals, said he tried to convince them to get rid of the knife, telling them to drop the weapon.

But his orders fell on deaf ears and thug Brown, of the burgh town’s Cassley Avenue, ripped it down his face, leaving him with a slash wound.

Lee, of Creran Drive, admitted forcing his way into the flat and fighting with Copeland, while Brown admitted being the one who slashed Copeland in the face.

They were remanded in custody ahead of sentencing and, when they appeared in the dock this week, Sheriff Spy ruled they should undergo psychiatric examinations.

He said he wanted Brown – who is said to have “a history of chronic anxiety and self-harm” – to be seen by a clinical psychiatrist and ordered Lee – who has a history of mental health difficulties – to be assessed by someone at Paisley’s Dykebar hospital.

They will be sentenced later this month.