A THUG brutally assaulted a cyclist with a machete in broad daylight.
James Muirhead, 26, repeatedly struck Mark Wright in a butcher shop in Glasgow's Dennistoun on the morning of September 4 last year.
Muirhead - who has previous bad blood with his victim - inflicted a number of wounds to Mr Wright's head and body.
Mr Wright also suffered a skull fracture during the horrific attack which took place in front of two employees.
Muirhead pleaded guilty today at the High Court in Glasgow to the assault to Mr Wright's severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of life.
The court heard that Muirhead was in a car heading home from a night out around 9.45am.
Mr Wright was cycling along Duke Street when Muirhead jumped out and shouted at him.
Mr Wright ran off but was tailed by Muirhead who caught up with him.
Prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel said: "Muirhead attacked him and Mr Wright fell to the floor of a butcher shop.
"He continued to strike him with the machete.
"Members of the public pulled Muirhead off of Mr Wright."
Muirhead then returned to the vehicle and fled the scene.
Police attended the scene where they bandaged Mr Wright's bleeding hand and head.
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The victim stated he did not know who attacked him but it was "three men who did and [they] used a machete to strike me".
Mr Wright was taken to hospital where he was treated for wounds to his left hand, middle finger, forearm and a fractured skull.
CCTV was used to establish that it was Muirhead who was responsible.
It was revealed that Muirhead had a previous High Court conviction for assault and robbery with a knife to severe injury and permanent disfigurement. Muirhead, of the city's Cranhill, was given a six-and-a-half year extended sentence - five of which was in custody.
Euan Dow, defending, told the court that Mr Wright is the friend of dad-of-one Muirhead's former partner.
The advocate said: "It is his position that while he was in prison, Mr Wright carried out various incidents against members of his family.
"This includes smashing his mother's home windows and setting fire to a car outside his home.
"His position is his judgement was impaired due to his intoxication and he acted in the way described.
"On seeing the CCTV footage for himself, he described his shock and embarrassment."
Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by judge Lady Drummond.
She said: "It is a serious offence - I am under no doubt prison is the appropriate sentence and it will be a lengthy period."
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