A DUMBARTON man who smashed a bottle over the head of a man he claimed was his friend for 20 years faces a jail term after failing to turn up for community service.

Darren McCallion, 30, of Dumbuie Avenue, Silverton, said he had heard his victim had badmouthed him in the lead up to the attack.

The victim had been out with friends on May 9, 2015, and went to the Stag’s Head pub in Glasgow Road, Dumbarton. Around 11.40pm, he was standing when McCallion approached from behind and hit him with a bottle.

Depute fiscal Sarah Healing previously told Dumbarton Sheriff Court: “The complainer, who was bleeding heavily, was assisted by staff who called police and an ambulance.

“He had a laceration of around 2.5 inches on the back of his head. He was treated at the scene and did not attend hospital. Police arrived shortly after the ambulance, and having reviewed CCTV, identified Mr McCallion as responsible.”

McCallion heard police were looking for him and handed himself in at Clydebank police office. When he was interviewed, he admitted the assault.

Ms Healing continued: “He explained he had known him for 20 years and the reason he gave was he had heard the complainer had been badmouthing the accused.”

The victim was said to have made a full recovery but was left with scarring to the back of his head. Though the man is bald and the scar is visible, it was not “considered disfiguring”.

Sheriff William Gallacher previously put McCallion on a community payback order with the addition of carrying out unpaid work, but on three occasions he breached the order.

On Friday, McCallion was back at Dumbarton Sheriff Court when defence lawyer Roddy Boag said his client had been unable to turn up for community service because he had “family issues, including child care. He had no warnings written or verbal”.

The sheriff said: “This was a very significant incident involving a bottle on someone’s head, which I regard as a serious matter. I told you what was required of you three times. This was a very serious offence involving a weapon. You were given the statutory maximum warnings more than once. I don’t accept your excuse is an acceptable one. You didn’t comply. I told you if you didn’t comply you would be sent to prison. I will therefore revoke the community payback order and remand you in custody to obtain a background report. There is no alternative to prison.”

As he was being handcuffed and taken away by a custody officer, McCallion screamed in court at the sheriff: “What was I to do with the f****** wean.”

He will be sentenced on August 30.