A THUG was caught on CCTV trying to kill two friends with a machete.

Jack Whitelaw attacked Paul Dowds and Robbie Hagen in Dumbarton Road, Clydebank, in January this year.

A judge heard violence erupted following a row at a nearby flat.

Whitelaw chased after the pair - both 18 - onto the middle of road before striking each separately.

The 21-year-old was later held by police after initially approaching them to claim his girlfriend had been attacked.

Whitelaw is now behind bars after he pleaded guilty to two attempted murder charges at the High Court in Glasgow.

He will learn his fate at sentencing next month.

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Whitelaw had earlier spent the day with the two victims and his partner.

But, an argument in the early hours lead to the thug initially chasing Mr Dowds out onto the street.

Footage of the crime was played in court.

Prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel said the victim was struck “several times” with the weapon.

A number of shocked witness dialled 999.

As Mr Dowds lay slumped beside a car, Whitelaw then turned on Mr Hagen.

He was hit up to six times before managing to get away.

Mr Hagen later stated to a passer-by: “He has done me in.”

Police initially found an injured Mr Dowds before Whitelaw spoke to officers.

Miss Dalziel: “He approached to say that his girlfriend had been assaulted.”

Police followed to the tenement where the couple were living.

Officers became suspicious when they spotted blood in the flat and also on Whitelaw.

The couple were told to leave as the area was now being treated as a crime scene.

Officers went on to discover a machete at the property.

The court heard Mr Dowd suffered wounds to his skull and knee. Mr Hagen had an ear injury.

Lady Scott remanded Whitelaw, also of Clydebank, in custody as sentencing was deferred until October 25 at the High Court in Livingston.