AN 'INTIMIDATED' man filled a sock with unknown items and smashed it against the head of another male — then handed himself in to police.

Callum O'Donnell lashed out with the makeshift weapon after being badgered by Jamie O'Brien for money for a number of weeks, Greenock Sheriff Court was told.

O'Donnell, 30, carried out the assault shortly before 8am after calling Mr O'Brien outside a building and giving him a handwritten note.

Prosecutor John Penman said: "The complainer started to read it, at which point the accused struck him to the right side of his head with the filled sock.

"The accused then immediately attended at Greenock police office and handed himself in.

"He admitted that he had assaulted Mr O'Brien and he was compliant with the police."

The incident occurred on the morning of March 8 at the Inverclyde Centre on Greenock's Dalrymple Street.

Fiscal depute Mr Penman said: "Both were residing at the centre.

"During the month of February and into March, the complainer had been asking the accused for money.

"At 7.55am on March 8 the accused had had enough and was feeling intimidated by the actions of the complainer.

"Essentially, he prepared what is described as a sock filled with unknown items."

Mr O'Brien sustained a scratch to the right side of his scalp in the incident but refused to provide a statement to police.

However, the incident was captured on CCTV footage.

O'Donnell pleaded guilty by letter to the assault to injury and unlawful possession of an offensive weapon.

Sheriff Joseph Hughes deferred sentence on him until next January for his personal appearance in court and the outcome of a pending criminal case which is due to call at Paisley Sheriff Court in November.