A GREENOCK man was hauled into court after he tore his partner's hand open with a key.

Brian McGhee, 49, caused the injury as he ripped the set from the woman's grasp during a struggle.

She was left with blood pouring from the wound, which had to be treated with five stitches following the assault.

McGhee, of Lyle Street, was on a deferred sentence to be of good behaviour at the time of the incident on June 26.

Prosecutor David Glancy told the town's sheriff court: "The accused and the complainer have what can euphemistically be described as a volatile relationship.

"Both had been in his flat overnight and both woke around noon.

"She reached across him to take the keys and make her way out.

"He grabbed her hand, there was a struggle and he pulled the keys from her hand and this is what caused the injury."

The court heard how the assault — described by McGhee as a 'freak accident' — sparked an emergency 999 call.

He pleaded guilty through lawyer Aidan Gallagher to seizing his partner, struggling with her and seizing the a set of keys from her grasp to injury.

Fiscal depute Mr Glancy said: "The accused gave a version of events and admitted there had been some discord.

"There was no intelligible reply to caution and charge."

McGhee had been caught in possession of heroin a month before the assault.

Sentence on both matters has been deferred so that a background report can be compiled.

McGhee is due back in court on August 7.