A VERBAL exchange between two neighbours led to a street fight in Alexandria and one man being stabbed above his left eye.

Robert Robinson, aged 27, whose address in court was given as Greenock Prison, and Andrew Brown, aged 23, formerly of King Edward Street, Alexandria, but now living in Dumbarton, appeared on indictment at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Tuesday, July 11.

Robert Robinson appeared at the hearing from custody.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting a man in Dumbain Crescent, Alexandria, on March 4 this year by struggling violently with him and striking him on the head with a knife or similar instrument to his injury and permanent disfigurement.

And Brown pleaded guilty to being in possession of an offensive weapon, namely a metal chain, without reasonable excuse during the same incident.

It was revealed in court that the two accused are brothers.

Fiscal Depute Sarah Healing said the men were committed for examination on April 7. Robinson was remanded while Brown committed to bail.

The court was told how the location of the offence was a roadway across from a block of flats in Alexandria.

Fiscal depute Sarah Healing said the complainer and the accused lived in the same building.

She continued: "They were neighbours and he spoke with Brown on several occasions but he did not know Robinson (the brother) so much but did know him in passing."

The fiscal told how the complainer and a companion were having a few drinks around 1.30am but then decided to walk to a petrol station.

"They walked down the stairs and saw Brown coming up, passing them and staring as he did so," said Ms Healing.

"They heard him muttering something when they were at the bottom of the stairs.

"This led to a verbal exchange involving all three of them."

The court was told how the victim started to make his way up the stairs and, as he did so, the verbal altercation continued.

Ms Healing said: "By this time they were both standing at the top of the stairs, a small distance apart from each other and the verbal altercation was still on going."

It was claimed that the victim produced a metal chain from his pocket, while Brown, who appeared to be on his mobile phone, also remove a chain and swung it around as he spoke.

The incident continued to unfold outside the block of flats and across the street and Robinson was then seen running out of the close to join his brother.

The victim and Brown were then involved in a scuffle before Robinson got involved and lunged at the victim, striking him on the face with a knife and catching him above the left eye.

The companion and the victim, who was covered in blood, called a taxi and went to the Vale of Leven Hospital, where he was found to have a 4cm jagged laceration above left eyebrow and abrasions, the injuries requiring four stitches.

The court was also told how the victim did not report the matter at that stage and it was only days later that he did so.

"Police attended and made inquiries," said Ms Healing.

"Brown was traced and Robinson attended (a police station) by his own accord."

The court also heard how Robinson told police he believed the victim was "going for his brother" and initially denied having a knife.

Sentence was deferred until August 1 in order to obtain a criminal justice social work report on Robinson, while a similar report will be complied for Brown, along with a restriction of liberty assessment.

Brown was granted bail but Robinson was held in custody pending his next appearance in court.