A PARKHALL man has pleaded guilty to punching someone so hard his victim needed a metal plate inserted in his head.

Andrew Summers, of Parkhall Terrace, admitted the assault in Dalmuir when he hit another man on the head, knocking him to the ground to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

There was an existing neighbour dispute involving Summers, 23, the victim and others, the court heard.

The incident started around 3pm on September 14 last year when the victim and his sister were walking to collect her daughter at school.

As they passed a shop, Summers emerged and approached them, shouting at the man, “I’m going to kick your c*** in”.

The other man replied, “Do it - I’m not afraid of you” and there was a scuffle, fiscal depute David McDonald told Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week.

After the scuffle, the man and woman crossed to the side of the street of the primary school in Dumbarton Road and then back towards the woman’s home.

The victim was then approached from behind and punched to the right side of his face, knocking him to the ground.

The woman saw the punch and Summers running away afterwards.

Police were called and the victim taken to hospital where he was found to have a fractured right orbital bone.

He needed a plate with two screws inserted to repair the bone and there was a 4cm laceration below the right eye. There is still a faint scar, the court was told.

Summers was traced the day after the attack and detained for court.

His defence solicitor, Judith Reid, said he is currently subject to a community payback order for another offence.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said: “All I can say is every possible sentence option is open.”

Social work and restriction of liberty reports were called for and Summers will be sentenced on July 27.