A JOHNSTONE man is facing jail after using a metal bar to carry out a brutal attack in a town centre pub.

Samuel Hannah, 59, had spent the day downing Drambuie liqueur with his wife before carrying out the assault, which left his innocent victim scarred for life.

Paisley Sheriff Court was told Hannah had been drinking at the Keystone pub, in Houstoun Square, Johnstone, on March 16 last year.

READ MORE: Renfrewshire pensioner fighting for his life after being hit by van

He then left, armed himself with the metal bar and headed back to the pub with the weapon stuffed up the sleeve of his jacket.

Hannah, of Dimity Street, then approached Ernest Craig, who was sitting at the bar drinking pints of cider.

The conversation between the pair became heated and, after shouting at Mr Craig, Hannah stepped back and turned, hiding from his victim the act of pulling the metal bar from his sleeve.

He then struck Mr Craig so hard with the bar the pint glass he was holding smashed in his face.

The Gazette:

The scene of the shocking attack 

In the moments that followed, Hannah repeatedly struck his victim in the face and on the head.

The blows knocked Mr Craig unconscious and sent him crashing to the floor face-first, where he was left lying in a pool of blood.

The shocking attack was captured on CCTV and showed Mr Craig lying motionless on the floor of the pub before coming to his senses, writhing in pain and struggling to stand once he regained consciousness.

Details of the attack emerged when Hannah appeared in the dock for a pre-trial hearing.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Craig in an attack that left him badly hurt and scarred for life.

A charge that he had assaulted another reveller who tried to disarm him after his attack on Mr Craig was dropped by prosecutors.

Defence solicitor Rhona Lynch said: “There is nothing I can say at this stage, by way of mitigation, which can explain or give any background on this very serious assault.

“Mr Hannah has searched his soul over the last few months, trying to work out why he behaved in the way he did, other than being heavily under the influence of alcohol.”

She added: “This appears to be completely out of character.

“On the evening in question, he was drinking with his wife and she left to go home for the evening.

“He was drinking Drambuie and has a very limited and sketchy recollection of events.

“He was literally hanging his head in shame in the dock as the CCTV was played.”

Sheriff Tom McCartney called for background reports to be prepared ahead of sentencing, which will take place next month.

READ MORE: Manhunt launched for escaped convict caged for axe attack

He told Hannah: “The severity of this assault is such that it is very hard to see there can be any alternative to prison that would be appropriate, and you should be aware of that.

“I’ll make no decision in respect of that until I’ve read the reports I have ordered.”