A MACHETE attack-accused ‘tried to cut up’ a man in a Greenock close with a zombie-style blade measuring nearly three feet in length after complaining about noise from an upstairs property, a jury has heard.

James Lowles is charged with carrying out an assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement following a disturbance inside a three-storey block of flats at Kestrel Place.

The sheriff court was told that the alleged victim was ‘bleeding quite badly’ and suffered ‘instantly visible’ wounds after the reported violent incident.

Lowles, 36, has claimed that he acted in self-defence and has denied repeatedly striking the man on the body with the weapon on December 4, 2022.

A police officer - who was first through the door of the address, along with a colleague, on the night – said he entered to find two men fighting and grappling over ‘what I thought was a sword’.

The PC told the court: “We could hear shouting, banging and a disturbance inside the close when we rang the buzzer outside.

“[The alleged victim] had possession of the sword and they were fighting over it.

“The other male had his hands on it. [The alleged victim] had the handle and James Lowles had the blade in his hands.

“[The alleged victim] had injuries which were instantly visible."

The officer added: “When I was putting handcuffs on him, I noticed his hands were bleeding quite badly.

“He didn’t tell me what happened.

“He just said James Lowles tried to cut him up.”

The officer said that he was actioned to attend the scene at around 1am in response to a 999 call from a neighbour and Lowles and the other man were spotted on the half landing at the top of the stairs inside.

The police witness told the court that both men became hostile towards officers, describing Lowles as ‘abusive and quite aggressive’, while the other male was ‘verbally abusive’.

The alleged victim was assessed for injuries by a doctor at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and after being cautioned and charged by police, he replied, ‘I’m sorry’, according to the constable.

The trial also heard evidence from two people who had joined the social gathering on the night of the incident.

One woman, who said she is best friends with the alleged victim’s sister, whose flat they had been at, said everyone had been drinking alcohol and music was being played ‘but not too loud’.

She said: “We went downstairs to apologise for the noise as they were banging on the ceiling and they [Lowles and an unnamed individual] were nice enough at the door.

“We said they would be welcome up if they wanted to join.

“I didn’t even know anything had happened until police came to the flat.”

A male witness, who took to the stand after appearing from custody, agreed that ‘the boys were quite pleasant’ in the downstairs property before the alleged serious assault.

However, he said that he refused to provide a statement to police as he did not see the incident unfold.

He told the court: “I knew there was a commotion because I’m not deaf, but it was nothing to do with me, I was just there to have a good time.”

The trial, before Sheriff James Varney, continues.