Jail for horrible hammer attack

A heroin addict who carried out a sickening hammer attack on his victim’s doorstep has been jailed for nearly eight months.

Lee Nicol reigned blows down on his victim’s head and body when the man answered the door of his home in Dalmellington.

And the thug warned another person who was present: “You’ll know all about it, I’m from Paisley.”

Nicol, aged 25, of Merrick Drive, Bellsbank, appeared from custody at Ayr Sheriff Court on Tuesday, September 3.

He pleaded guilty to four charges, one of which was the hammer attack in Ness Glen Road, Dalmellington, on July 23 this year and being in possession of an offensive weapon.

Sentence was deferred for background reports.

Nicol also pleaded guilty to two charges of assault in Newton Street, Catrine, on June 2 this year.

The court was told how the hammer attack victim and a friend were within a premises on Glen Road when they saw the accused come to the front door.

Upon answering it, Nicol questioned his victim over the surname of one of the occupants and when he turned away he felt a blow on head from behind and the back of his left shoulder.

Laurin Campbell, the Fiscal Depute said: “He ( Nicol) was holding a hammer with the handle cut down. The accused shouted ‘ You will know all about it, I’m from Paisley.’”

The victim sustained “grazing” on his head and shoulder blade.

Police attended. The accused was traced, arrested, cautioned and charged.

In respect of the other assault charges against Nicol the court was told that he warned one victim ‘ You are lucky I don’t have my machete because I just stay across the road.’

In mitigation, Nicol’s defence solicitor said to Sheriff Mhari Mactaggart : “Due to the nature of the offences you will be considering a custodial sentence.

“He was heavily into drugs at the time, heroin, but he accepts full responsibility.

“I understand from him that he’s going through de- tox at Barlinnie and there has been a marked change in him since he’s been in custody.

“The report does offer an alternative to custody.

“He’s someone who needs to address a drugs addiction.

“He wants to be free of that drug addiction.

“He’s been on remand since July 24.”

But Sheriff Mactaggart said to Nicol: “The combination of these offences and assault with a weapon; you are really at the point where no other sentence, other than a custodial one, can be considered.”

Nicol was sentenced to 30 weeks in jail, backdated to July 24, when he was first taken into custody.