A MAN charged with masking himself and terrorising a Greenock couple with a machete after allegedly carrying out an assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement has been freed on bail.

John Paul Hilferty is accused of smashing windows at their Killearn Road home by repeatedly striking them with a machete.

Prosecutors say the alleged incident occurred after the 25-year-old had repeatedly struck a man on the head with a knuckleduster at Belville Street on November 9.

It is alleged that he targeted the couple at their home the following day.

Hilferty is charged with behaving in a threatening or abusive manner 'likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear of alarm' by acting aggressively towards the man and woman.

It is alleged that, with his face masked, he struck their door and repeatedly hit their windows with a machete.

The Crown says Hilferty was acting along with another person whose identity is unknown when he is said to have carried out the knuckleduster assault.

Hilferty, of St Lawrence Street, appeared from custody for a private hearing on petition at Greenock Sheriff Court.

The case was continued for further examination and he was allowed bail.