A MACHETE attack accused who had been charged with inflicting severe injuries on a man in an alleged blade attack in a Greenock close has been acquitted following a three-day sheriff court trial.

James Lowles, 36, was accused of causing permanent disfigurement to an alleged male victim after repeatedly striking him with a near-three-feet-long weapon inside a block of flats at Kestrel Place around 18 months ago.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard evidence from a police witness who turned up at the scene in response to a 999 call from a neighbour in the early hours of December 4, 2022.

The officer told the jury of nine women and six men that Lowles and the alleged victim were found ‘fighting’ and ‘grappling’ over ‘what I thought was a sword’.

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The PC said that the alleged victim had injuries which were ‘instantly visible’ and his hands were ‘bleeding quite badly’.

The constable added: “He didn’t tell me what happened.

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

Two other witnesses, who had been at a social gathering in an upstairs property on the night with the alleged victim, also gave evidence but claimed they were not present when the reported violent attack unfolded.

The case against Lowles, heard before Sheriff James Varney, was found not proven.