A SERIOUS assault accused who admitted to scarring a man for life is now set to face a jury trial after a sheriff ruled his guilty plea was inadmissible.

Martin McGrath previously accepted a charge of attacking the man with a piece of broken glass.

He pleaded guilty to repeatedly striking him on the body with the shard to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

McGrath, 49, was arrested on the matter after police were called to an incident at Holmscroft Avenue in Greenock in April of 2021.

However, a U-turn in the case was confirmed at the sheriff court as McGrath, of Ann Street, appeared in the dock for sentencing - weeks after a February trial date had been pencilled in.

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At an earlier calling of the case McGrath's solicitor said there was a 'question mark over whether he was in a position to provide instruction' following a recent diagnosis of Korsakoff syndrome.

The neurological condition, commonly caused by alcohol misuse, has memory loss as one of its main symptoms, and McGrath's cognitive abilities were said to have been 'impaired quite significantly'.

After presenting the results of a psychiatric assessment to the court, solicitor Gerry Keenan said: "It would appear on the face of it that the condition of tendering an appropriate plea has not been met."

Mr Keenan added that his client's guilty plea should be withdrawn and an examination of the facts should take place before proceeding.

Sheriff James Varney accepted the solicitor's submission and continued the case to a hearing on July 9 before a scheduled jury trial later that month.

The case against a female co-accused in the matter has been dropped by the Crown.