AYR MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ASSAULT, ARSON, AND THEFT
A THUG set fire to a flat in Ayr after he kicked and stamped on his friend's head, beating him with a guitar and stealing his trainers.William McGarry pleaded guilty to the savage assault on his ‘friend’ in Galloway Avenue and at the Tesco filling station in Whitletts Road on October 29 last year.
The 28-year-old repeatedly struck his victim on the head with a guitar, repeatedly pursued him, and repeatedly pulled him to the ground.
McGarry dragged him by the clothing, pursued him repeatedly, punched and kicked him while on the ground, and repeatedly stamped on his head to his injury and to the danger of his life.
He then robbed him of a pair of shoes.
McGarry later wilfully set fire to a mattress, a sofa, and items of clothing in various locations in a property on Ayr's Gould Street, causing a blaze to take effect to the danger of those nearby.
He also admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards his partner on January 9 while breaching conditions of a bail order granted on September 13 at Ayr Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Shirley Foran said: "He will have to be realistic given the circumstances" when handling his sentencing.
The prosecutor detailed that on October 28, an argument broke out at a friend's flat, where McGarry repeatedly struck the complainant with a guitar.
CCTV footage showed them leaving the flat, walking to Galloway Street, and their subsequent argument outside.
He was observed dragging his victim along the ground, kicking and punching him, and shouting insults.
The attack culminated with McGarry stamping on the victim’s head, taking his trainers, and walking away.
The injuries observed included a swollen right ear, a bloodied nose, and a swollen left eye.
Additionally, on December 10, police responded to multiple fires set deliberately in Ayr, with CCTV identifying McGarry entering the location and sending threatening messages to his ex-partner afterwards.
McGarry, who was in custody at HMP Kilmarnock, was returned to jail after the court deferred sentencing for social work reports.
