A MAN accused of attacking and severely injuring his former partner has claimed he was acting in self-defence, Greenock Sheriff Court has heard.

Jordan O'Neill and co-accused Holly Little are charged with assaulting the alleged female victim in September 2022, leaving her scarred for life and permanently impaired.

Prosecutors claim the pair, aged 30 and 26, kicked the woman on the body before grabbing her and pushing her to the ground on Albert Road in Gourock.

It is alleged they then repeatedly kicked her on the head and punched her on the body, while they are also said to have struck her on the head with a glass, seized her by the hair and dragged her along the ground.

O'Neill and Little are further charged with behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and uttering offensive remarks towards the alleged victim.

The offences were aggravated by involving O'Neill's ex, according to court papers.

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A preliminary hearing was told that O'Neill, represented by solicitor Aidan Gallagher, has lodged a special defence of self-defence against the allegations.

Little's lawyer, Ellen Macdonald, has not yet submitted a similar defence as she has not seen CCTV footage of the incident.

The court heard that CCTV cameras captured the full incident but police did not seize the footage, claiming they were unable to have it transferred from a phone as the person who recorded it needed the phone for his business.

Procurator fiscal depute Kirstin Brierley said: "I can't quite understand why it can't be transferred.

"It is a very important piece of evidence."

Sheriff James Spy continued the case to another first diet hearing on February 20, for further investigation into the availability of the CCTV footage.

O'Neill, of Ashton Road, and Little, of Levanne Place, both Gourock, will remain on bail meantime.