A MAN bit his girlfriend’s dad’s finger off in a vicious assault on Christmas Day last year.

Ryan Brodie from Smeaton Court in Troon was told by a judge that he left his victim unable to tie his own shoelaces when he was sentenced to just over four years in prison for his savage attack.

The 26-year-old stopped by his partner’s family home in Dailly to drop off a Christmas present when heated words were exchanged with her father. Upon leaving, Brodie threatened to return with a car full of “Drongan boys”.

Depute Fiscal Lynda Carnochan told Ayr Sheriff Court: “They had been in relationship for two months. It appeared that the accused girlfriend’s father and accused didn’t get along.

“Around 10.30am on Christmas Day 2018, all were at the locus celebrating together. The accused tried to drop off a present. He shook hands with the complainer and entered the kitchen.”

Miss Carnochan continued to tell the court that the pair “had words” before Brodie was ordered outside. She added: “They both made direct threats to each other where the accused was heard saying he would be back with a car load from Drongan”.

Brodie’s distressed girlfriend pleaded with him by text message when he left the home to “sort things out and drop it” but the brute was already committed to turning up for more violence, and he chillingly replied: “Sorry, they have overstepped the mark. The boys are coming round. He is a dead man.”

Brodie turned up later in the day, forcing his way back into the bungalow and attacked the 61-year-old, striking him on the head with a blunt metal object he came armed with, causing two head lacerations. He repeatedly punched his helpless victim on the head, seized him by his clothes and pushed him on a couch. He continued struggling with him and bit his right middle finger. Miss Carnochan told the court: “He bit him on the finger and bit the top half of his finger off.”

The savage left the horrific scene shouting again: “I have a car load of Drongan boys if you want to take it further.”

The top of the man’s finger was found on the floor by the ambulance service who tried to preserve it, but medical staff were unable to reattach the finger and he was left with permanent disfigurement. The court also heard the man was tested for Hepatitis B as it was claimed Brodie was a drug user.

Even Brodie’s defence solicitor seemed shocked at his client’s brutality. He began by saying: “It’s difficult to know where to begin after hearing a narrative like that. There does appear to be a young man who has problems with drugs, alcohol and mental health issues.

“It’s fair to say the court will want some kind of supervision after this man’s period in custody. He desperately needs supervision and he desperately needs intervention.”

Brodie was sentenced to 50 months in jail backdated to the time of the incident.

Sheriff Desmond Leslie said: “I specifically asked for background to all matters as they all have a nature to violence.

“Your behaviour on Christmas Day is extreme. Your victim has set out his position to me, to the court, that the consequences are that he’s a 61-year-old man having to re-learn how to tie his laces as a result of you biting off the tip of his right middle finger.”