Man admits footballer axe attack

Sentence on Rennie was deferred for reports at the High Court in Glasgow

A 36-year-old man is facing a prison sentence after admitting to an axe attack on a young footballer who had been kissing his girlfriend.

Craig Rennie smashed the window of his home in Irvine with an axe in August before pulling Pamela Black through it and assaulting her.

He then hit Kilmarnock trialist Craig Connell on the head with the axe before repeatedly slashing him with a knife.

Sentence on Rennie was deferred at the High Court in Glasgow for reports.

The court heard how Rennie had been in a bar with Ms Black in Irvine when she was alleged to have kissed Mr Connell.

Ms Black later returned to the house she shared with Rennie in the company of Mr Connell and another friend.

Rennie then turned up, smashed one of the windows and dragged his girlfriend onto the street where he repeatedly assaulted her.

He then climbed into the flat, hit the 18-year-old footballer on the head with the axe and repeatedly slashed him on the face with a pocket knife.

The former Celtic youth player required 30 stitches and is scarred for life.