A VICIOUS thug who left his friend scarred for life in a row over a mobile phone has been jailed.

Erskine man Robert Dunn turned on David Beaton while they were in the Trongate area of Glasgow on August 23 this year.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard how Mr Beaton had dropped 23-year-old Dunn’s phone, leaving the screen smashed.

Dunn suddenly pounced on his victim, leaving him with a nasty facial wound, during a trip to a shop to have the phone repaired.

Mr Beaton was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where he needed 10 stitches to repair his wound.

Dunn admitted assaulting Mr Beaton to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

The court heard that Dunn had tried to board a bus in the city centre at around 4.20pm on the day in question.

Mr Beaton, whose face was bleeding, asked the bus driver not to let Dunn on board, stating that he had “slashed him.”

A 999 call was then made and police who responded were able to trace the pair together.

Mr Beaton told officers he had been assaulted by Dunn, who was then arrested.

Prosecutor Sarah Latta said: “He had a three-inch wound to the right side of his face which required 10 stitches which will leave a permanent scar.

“He told officers that he and Dunn were friends who fell out due to an incident where he dropped his phone.

“Mr Beaton said he would repair the smashed screen and then went to a shop nearby, where they had an argument and Dunn slashed his face.”

Officers later found traces of blood and the neck of a bottle where the assault took place.

Dunn, who was remanded in custody after admitting the attack, was sentenced to 19 months behind bars when he returned to the dock today to learn his fate.