A THUG who whacked a woman so hard that he fractured her eye socket could be heading to prison.

Daniel Cassidy repeatedly struck the female on her head and body during the early hours assault to severe injury in her own home.

Cassidy, 28 — who has previous assault convictions — 'lost control' amid a heated exchange of words, Greenock Sheriff Court was told.

He had been babysitting for the woman while she enjoyed a night out with friends and invited a pal round to her house.

Procurator fiscal Ziad Ul Hassan said: "The complainer arrived home at 3.30am and the friend of the accused left the locus.

"Matters escalated which resulted in the accused initially slapping the complainer."

The court heard how the accused was subsequently repeatedly struck her on the head and body and seized her by the neck.

The injured and 'very upset' woman made an emergency 999 call to police and Cassidy fled on realising who she was talking to.

He carried out the assault on December 3 last year.

Prosecutor Mr Ul Hassan said: "The complainer was very upset.

"An X-ray at accident and emergency confirmed an orbital fracture to her right eye."

Cassidy, of King Street in Greenock, was later traced and made 'numerous admissions' to police but insisted when cautioned and charged that he never punched her.

Defence lawyer Gerry Keenan said: "Mr Cassidy asks for bail notwithstanding the serious nature of the charge.

"Although his record comprises crimes from which violence can be inferred they are not of a domestic nature, and the last offence was seven or eight years ago.

"Old sores which led to the end of the relationship were re-opened but that doesn't excuse what he did.

"Plainly there was an exchange of words and he lost control."

Sheriff Derek Hamilton deferred sentence until March 6 for a background report and allowed bail.

But he told Cassidy: "Bail is no guarantee that you will walk from here on the next occasion.

"You fractured this girl's eye socket and you have previous convictions for assault."